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The world commemorates Aids Day on December 1 every year.

The country has made great strides in reducing HIV prevalence from over 20 percent to the current 14,2 percent.
Zimbabwe’s contestant in the Big Brother Africa All Star TV reality show, Munyaradzi Chidzonga, joined Washing-ton’s Ambassador in Harare Mr Charles Ray and musician Alexio Kawara in taking the public tests.

Others who joined them included TV personality Rumbidzai Mungwira, soccer players Desmond Maringwa, Washi-ngton Arubi and Norman Maroto, and journalist Melody Gwenyambira.
The public tests are a means of de-mystifying the virus and ending stigmatisation.

Munya urged youths to take HIV tests to help them plan their lives accor-dingly.

“Knowledge is power, the ability to know your status helps in planning your future.
“If celebrities are armed with proper information, they can have a positive impact on the lives of other people and help with behaviour change,” he said.

Dynamos team captain Maringwa, who is the president of Zimbabwe Foot-ballers Association, urged his collea-gues to be tested.

“I have been playing professional football for the past 15 years and I have dribbled past many players; but for just 15 minutes I have dribbled HIV and Aids.-The Herald