Zimbabwe's students advised to tackle HIV/AIDS stigma
26/06/2009
A workshop in Harare has highlighted the need for students across Zimbabwe to deal with the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.
The Herald reports that raising awareness about the disease in tertiary institutions could have a major impact on ensuring that many more students currently living with HIV are able to seek appropriate drug and counselling support.
Lucy Makaza Mazingi, the vice-chairperson of the Students and Youths Working on the Reproductive Health Action Team, explained that students play a major role in defining the attitudes of society and that more need to be educated on issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.
She added: "We believe that the same students' spirit that broke down the shackles of racism has the potential to confront HIV and change its trend to assure a better future for a generation that risks never seeing its grandchildren."
According to UNAIDS figures, around 1.2 million people are living with HIV in Zimbabwe. 
