Stakeholder Workshops to Strengthen HIV Programmes in Zimbabwe

The Manicaland Centre for Public Health Research recently hosted two workshops in Zimbabwe for national and local stakeholders in the HIV response. The aim of the workshops was to share the results of research by the Manicaland Centre and discuss their policy and programme implications.

The first workshop took place on March 23rd in Mutasa and focused on local stakeholders, including District Medical Officers, District AIDS Coordinators, and village headmen. The second workshop took place from March 29th to March 31st in Mutare and focused on national policymakers, including representatives from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, National AIDS Council, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the World Health Organization.

Both workshops covered a range of topics including COVID-19 and HIV risk, HIV and comorbidities, behavioural economics perspectives on HIV control, and HIV prevention cascades. Future directions for research were also discussed, with the goal of ensuring that studies remain relevant to affected communities. Speakers from the Manicaland Centre included Simon Gregson, Constance Nyamukapa, Rufurwokuda Maswera, Phyllis Mandizvidza, Tawanda Dadirai, Freedom Dzamatira, Louisa Moorhouse, and Katherine Davis.
The workshops provided a platform for attendees to share their knowledge and experiences, exchange ideas, and feedback on opportunities and challenges. The Manicaland Centre team hope to continue these important conversations in future.
Both workshops were funded by the Wellcome Trust.