Published by the government of Zimbabwe
3 October 2008
Harare — RESEARCHERS should conduct studies in line with the country's targeted Millennium Development Goals to assist Government's response using proven and effective strategies, a cabinet Minister has said.
Speaking at an annual research conference held in Harare yesterday, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr David Parirenyatwa said MDGs researchers should target include fighting poverty and hunger, child health, maternal health and HIV and Aids.
"Research should guide us to formulate policy through provision of safe and effective methods to combat health challenges," Dr Parirenyatwa said.
He said some of the areas where Government needed advice from the researchers include prevention of mother to child transmission, behavioural change and reliance on traditional midwives.
"We have been advised that infants should breastfeed exclusively for the first six months because we are a poorly resourced country but should we continue with this policy? Your research should tell us what to do."
Dr Parirenyatwa challenged the researchers to continue studies on behavioural change since it was realised as the most effective method that contributed to the decline of HIV and Aids in the country.
On anti-retroviral drugs, Dr Parirenyatwa said as the number of people taking the drugs increases, a possible significant number of resistance could not be ruled out, hence the need for more research to be done.
Meanwhile, the two-day conference being held under the theme: "Research to find interventions against HIV and Aids" is expected to end today.
The conference, organised by the University of Zimbabwe in collaboration with the University of San Francisco, is meant to equip other researchers and stakeholders with updates on various research underway in the country.
Some of the research include HIV prevention methods.
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