Press Release
Zimbabwe launches HIV prevention campaign

Zimbabwe joins nine other Southern African countries, namely Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia, in launching a regional HIV prevention campaign entitled OneLove.

Zimbabwe is launching its national campaign on the 3rd of June 2009, while Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland already launched. Zimbabwe´s One Loveis spearheaded by Action, a partner to a South African based NGO; Soul City: Institute for health and development communication, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and the National AIDS Council (NAC).

The OneLove Campaign is focusing on the reduction of Multiple and Concurrent Sexual Partnerships (MCPs) which has been identified as the key driver of the HIV pandemic in Southern Africa.

 The SADC region is the most affected by HIV globally. According to a 2005 UNAIDS report the adult prevalence rate in the region was estimated at almost 11% compared to the global average of just 1%. In Zimbabwe the HIV prevalence rate stands at 15.6% for the ages between 15-49 (NAC statistics 2009).

 A 10 country research was conducted to establish reasons for MCP. The findings were that the reasons for engaging in MCP across all the participating countries were similar. Some of the reasons included the need to have a fulfilling sexual and intimate relationship. Both men and women said they could not talk about their needs and desires with their spouses or regular partners and so they sought pleasure and comfort with someone else. This practice is also reinforced by cultural and social norms that view men with more than one partner as acceptable and even desirable.

The official launch of the OneLove Campaign will be conducted at Meikles Hotel in Harare and the Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr. Henry Madzorera is expected to officiate at the campaign. About 150 people who are mainly stakeholders in the HIV and AIDS prevention sector from Zimbabwe and in the region are expected to participate in the OneLove launch.
	Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr. HenryMadzorera

Other partners in the OneLove Campaign in Zimbabwe include organisations working on HIV prevention initiatives such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Southern Africa HIV And AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAFAIDS , Zimbabwe AIDS Prevention Services Organisation (ZAPSO), United Nations Children´s Education Fund (UNICEF), Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research Project (ZICHIRE) and Zimbabwe AIDS Network (ZAN). UNFPA and SAFAIDS have already produced multi-media materials on OneLove as part of the united force which is addressing the pandemic in Zimbabwe.

For more details contact the following: Caroline Majonga Action Programme Manager or Takaitei Bote Action Marketing and Advocacy Officer. Mukuvisi Environment Centre P.O Box GT 1274 Graniteside. Tel: (263-4) 747213/17/74 Fax (263-4) 747409. You can also email us on action@action.co.zw

"I had a pleasure and privilege of being invited to the Action, One Love launch, in Zimbabwe. It was held at the Meikles hotel. The function was spectacular  and well attended. The Minister of Health and Welfare was the guest speaker; he delivered an interesting and encouraging speech, very supportive of One Love. In fact, he asked people of Zimbabwe to support the campaign and do away with what he called, small houses. He further asked the house to repeat after him the tag line; protect, respect and connect, and he said it  three times."

Refiloe Joka-Serote
Regional Organisation Developer Specialist
Soul City