By Staff Reporter
HealthTimes will strengthen its coverage of HIV and AIDS after its Editor, Michael Gwarisa, was awarded a prestigious media scholarship by the International AIDS Society (IAS) to attend the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026), which will be held from 26–31 July 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The highly competitive scholarship programme brings together a select group of journalists from around the world, providing them with direct access to one of the largest gatherings of HIV scientists, researchers, policymakers, clinicians and advocates. The conference serves as a global platform for unveiling the latest scientific breakthroughs, innovations, treatment advances and policy developments in the fight against HIV.
For HealthTimes, the scholarship represents an opportunity to deliver first-hand, in-depth reporting on issues shaping the global HIV response and their implications for Zimbabwe and the African region.
During the conference, HealthTimes will provide comprehensive coverage of key scientific presentations, policy discussions, thematic sessions and high-level plenary meetings, ensuring readers receive accurate, timely and evidence-based information directly from the event.
Speaking after receiving confirmation of the scholarship, Gwarisa described the achievement as both a personal milestone and an important opportunity for HealthTimes to further strengthen its health journalism.
“I have been applying for this opportunity for the past few years since I started reporting on health. This time around, my application was finally accepted, and I am looking forward to learning from some of the world’s leading HIV scientists and experts,” he said.
He added that the scholarship is ultimately about improving the quality of health reporting available to Zimbabwean and African audiences.
“This opportunity is not just about attending an international conference. It is about bringing back knowledge, strengthening our reporting and adding value to the discourse on HIV and AIDS in our region, Africa. Our readers deserve access to the latest scientific developments, explained in a way that helps them understand what these innovations mean for their lives and communities,” Gwarisa said.
The IAS Media Scholarship Programme has become one of the society’s flagship initiatives aimed at improving public understanding of HIV science by equipping journalists with direct access to researchers and scientific evidence. Recipients participate in scientific sessions, media briefings and interviews with global experts throughout the conference.
Over the years, HealthTimes has established itself as one of Zimbabwe’s leading specialised health news platforms, covering public health, HIV, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases and health policy. The publication has also consistently reported on emerging innovations in HIV prevention and treatment, including long-acting injectable therapies, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), vaccine research and health systems strengthening.
Coverage from AIDS 2026 is expected to include exclusive interviews with international experts, daily news updates, feature stories, multimedia content and analysis of how global scientific advances can inform Zimbabwe’s national HIV response.
By participating in the conference, HealthTimes aims to bridge the gap between complex scientific research and the communities that stand to benefit from it, ensuring that readers across Zimbabwe and the region have access to credible, accurate and timely health information.
