Harare — CELEBRITIES and social leaders should spearhead HIV and Aids awareness in their communities to fight the stigma that still lingers around the pandemic, award-winning American actress Debra Messing has said.

Messing, a winner of the prestigious television Emmy Award and Population Services International Youth Aids Ambassador, said prominent people had the requisite influence to change negative perceptions.

She said this while officiating at the ninth Auxillia Chimusoro HIV and Aids Awards in Harare yesterday.

"If popular figures in society go around preaching the message of hope for the people who are affected and infected by the pandemic, this will change people's perception about the disease.

"Here in Zimbabwe you have Tuku (Oliver Mtukudzi) who has done a lot in teaching young people about HIV and Aids and I think more people should come forward and support them," Messing said.

PSI senior country representative in Zimbabwe Mr Michael Chommie said they were engaging other celebrities, among them musicians and footballers, to be ambassadors in preaching hope for people living with HIV and Aids.

Health and Child Welfare Minister Henry Madzorera said stigmatisation of people living with HIV and Aids remained a major concern.

"Research has shown that there are several negative perceptions in society towards people living with HIV and/or Aids and stigma acts as one of the major barriers to the uptake of HIV-related services such as testing and counselling.

"Auxillia Chimusoro worked hard to change that perception and to make sure that people living with HIV and Aids had a platform to share their story and to help others through their experiences," he said.

The awards, funded by the United States Agency for International Development, honour organisations and individuals who demonstrate commitment and courage in breaking the silence on the pandemic, work to reduce stigma and discrimination, and care for infected and affected people.

The awards are named after Auxillia Chimusoro, one of the first people in Zimbabwe to openly disclose their HIV positive status.

Internationally, Messing is best known for her role in the award-winning comedy series "Will & Grace".

Messing has also starred in several romantic comedies, including "The Wedding Date" and "The Women", alongside other showbiz luminaries Annette Benning and Meg Ryan.

Also present at the ceremony was the new US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Charles Ray, who said Washington would continue supporting the country's HIV and Aids intervention programmes.