The American Resource Centre (ARC) celebrated National Library Week on Wednesday. The commemoration included other libraries and information centres in Zimbabwe as they together with the US Embassy’s ARC took time to showcase some of their latest developments.  According to the ALA (American Libraries Association), the idea for National Library Week was based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would use and support libraries.

The US Embassy’s work in the dissemination of information through its resource centre is greatly appreciated in the information and technology fraternity. Technology is ever changing and they continue to adapt their services to suit current trends and user needs at the same time setting a guide for other resource centres in Zimbabwe to follow suit and remain functional in this technological era. ARC has corners in at the Bulawayo Public Library, Gweru Memorial Library and recently added Mutare to the list. These centres engage people who are not based in Harare to enjoy similar opportunities being rendered to students and researchers in Harare. The resource centre offers various library services to users being pod casts, kindles and their recent launch, elibrary. The elibrary, which is a collection of databases and journals, can be accessed through http://elibraryusa.state.gov/. It’s free but one needs to register to be able to access it.

The Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCS) also took time to showcase their latest ‘baby’, a research database that seeks to promote research and publicise Zimbabwean research on a global scale. The research database is an integrated collection of research work done on Zimbabwe and by Zimbabweans. It is accessible through this portal http://researchdatabase.ac.zw/

This is a great way to document research work electronically as the National Archives which is mandated to document these, is still doing so using hard copies. The database is accessible for free and one is required to register in order to do so.

The mother body for libraries in Zimbabwe, ZIMLA (Zimbabwe Library Association) held a separate meeting for librarians who were present at this National Library Week commemoration. ZIMLA is back on board on IFLA (International Federation of Libraries Association) and will share information on the 46th Conference and AGM to be held in Kadoma next month.

These efforts by librarians cannot go without acknowledging the work of writers, publishers and IT specialists in Zimbabwe who make it possible for such tools and programmes to be available for use in Zimbabwe.

Life on campus were the days when one would wish they were at home in the care of mum and dad. Especially when one got sick. I remember my final year at university; I developed a sore throat and went to the university clinic. The nurse there was totally convinced without a benefit of a doubt that I had contracted a terrible flu. I was hoping she was going to give me a prescription but instead she advised; “eat three square meals a day, get plenty of rest and don’t drink alcohol.”

When I told my roommate, she was amazed and perplexed. She asked in astonishment, “which world is she living in, doesn’t she realize you’re at university?”

Zimbabweans text in their thoughts

Following a PlusNews story about discussions to introduce door-to-door HIV testing in Zimbabwe, Kubatana asked our SMS subscribers what they thought of the door-to-door testing idea.

We received over 600 replies, and have mapped the 250 or so that we could associate with locations using Ushahidi’s Crowdmap here.

This gives an interesting visual of responses from around the country. About 60% of replies came from Harare and its immediate surrounding areas, with the rest coming from around the country, including Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mutare and more.

Responses were mixed, with 46.6% respondents thinking it was a good idea, particularly because of Zimbabwe’s high HIV prevalence and the fact that many Zimbabweans still do not know their HIV status. However, many Zimbabweans (38.2% of responses) expressed concerns about the idea, particularly because of issues of privacy and human rights. Others questioned whether the idea was the best use of government funds and public resources. Some worried that, without greater availability of HIV treatments and ARVs, the testing would not make the desired difference to peoples’ lives. A healthy portion (15%) of replies expressed mixed opinions of the idea, or believing that it would only work with certain preconditions.

Some of the responses included:

• Door to door HIV testing is a gross violation of one’s fundamental right, why not door to door distribution of food basics as this a drought year?
• The idea is good. It should good go a step further by making it mandatory not just voluntary for partners to disclose their HIV status to each other
• I think the rights of people must respected the cant force people the money to do the exercise should be used buy medicines 4 the sick
• Its not fair to test HIV door-to-door because suicide rate will increase
• The issue of door to door HIV testing is not bad but the problem is, does our government have enough funds to supply the drugs to the millions if not billion HIV victims.
• Door to door HIV testing, I wonder what they would have done with our legislation without room for compulsory testing & the confidentiality clause incorporated in it. They must think before embarking on this endeavour.
• People must not be forced to get tested, they must do that voluntarily
• Government plan of testing people door-to-door is unfair, it’s just like sleeping with woman who does not love you. They must go to well-wishers.
• This is a very noble idea. This idea has more privacy. And may cover those who were to go and get tested at centres.
• That’s bulls–t!! If they do then what? Government must concentrate on bread & butter issues only.
• There will be no more human rights at all
• The idea is good, but people should not be forced to undergo the H.I.V tests.
• This is a good initiative which will go a long way a long way in trying to mitigate the pandemic
• HIV/AIDS is a pandemic, it is reasonable to take measure in a bid to eradicate the disease. A door-to-door VTC is best for our nation.
• It is very positive for people to know their H.I.V. status but more importantly their attitude after knowing their status.
• Door to door HIV testing is good if proper counseling is done also if resources permit.
• I well come door-to-door HIV testing. Some people are denied and some avoided and again some in remote areas such that they lack chances of being informed accurately. Thus they will be rescued from dying due to ignorance. Please try to speed it up if chan
• I would suggest testing be done to all patients who seek health treatment in hospitals.
• It is a noble idea on the side of the government, but on the other side it’s an abuse to those unwilling.
• HIV testing should be voluntary not by coercion. Door to door testing is tantamount to testing by coercion. Instead of embarking on such a campaign, government. Should channel the money to educating the nation on the advantages of getting tested voluntarily
• Good idea but can only succeed with cooperation
• The government + NGOs must make some rigorous campaigns to educate people about the +tive aspects of being tested & its benefits otherwise no one would be found at home.
• If testing is by choice it is a good move. It is a good strategy to bring the programme to the people rather than people going to the programme. It is a violation of rights if it is mandatory.
• Yes its costly but good. We must know our status. Why should HIV be a secret? Diabetics wear a wrist plaque. It should apply so we live positively.
• Door-to-door testing is a good thing but it should start with ministers.
• Door-to-door HIV testing will cause havoc in our country because some of these government officials are not elected by the people I am saying this because the government is failing to feed its people, for example Masvingo governor banned NGOs from feeding
• I think they can go ahead since AIDS is a disease, which is just like malaria. So everyone should know his or her status.

View more and check out the map here

And add your two cents about the door-to-door testing idea in the comments section below!

Art Must Have the Right to Risk Being Bad.