The director of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), Chesterfield Samba, said intolerance was retarding efforts aimed at addressing health issues and urged government to create platforms for discussion issues that cover all Zimbabweans without discrimination.
“We are trying to create an enabling environment but there are some challenges that we meet when it comes to engaging with the political leadership. So we are saying that there must be a revision of laws that inhibit CSOs and the government from engaging on issues of key populations,” said Samba.
In December the Head of the AIDS and TB Unit in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Owen Mugurungi, said government was considering an anti-HIV programme for LGBT people and sex workers. “We should never forget these small populations of man who have sex with man, of drug users and sex workers. If we deal with the problem elsewhere and forget them, then infection will remain a problem,” said Mugurungi. Samba said they would soon release results of a research that was conducted around the country to ascertain the prevalence of HIV among MSM (men who have sex with men). “This included Bulawayo, Harare, Victoria Falls, Masvingo, Chipinge, Mutare among others. We reached out to quite a sizeable population in conducting this research,” said Samba.
Post published in: Health