ZAN activities affected by Covid-19

CommuTalk Reporter
REDCLIFF: The Zimbabwe Aids Network (ZAN) has been adversely affected by Covid-19 with some organisations going for almost two years without activities.
This has resultantly affected the fight against HIV/ AIDS and other communicable diseases.
Speaking during a quarterly committee meeting for Midlands and Matabeleland North chapters, several member organisations that form ZAN said they had failed to do advocacy work since the first Covid-19 lockdown in March last year thereby threatening gains harnessed towards fighting HIV/AIDS.
Midlands chapter chairperson Jabulani Mapingire also highlighted that membership subscriptions were not doing well with only four out of the registered membership of 40 having paid up the USD25 per annum.
Commenting on reduced membership, Mapingire also noted that ‘momentum and speed in the implementation of planned activities were slowed.
“Covid-19 has retarded some of our gains in human resources, economic and social fabrics,” he also said.
“To defeat Covid-19, there was a need to protect the gains made against HIV, TB, and malaria,” he added.
The Matabeleland North chapter also highlighted that they had not been spared from similar challenges.
The ZAN programmes officer Lovemore Mupfukura took time to present their strategy and roadmap for 2021-2025 which will be anchored on membership recruitment, advocacy, resource mobilisation, capacity building, and communication during the meeting.
ZAN is a grouping of Civic Society and Community Based Organisations that respond to HIV, TB, sexual reproductive health, and other non-communicable diseases.