News / National
UZ deny 47% HIV rate among students
25 May 2016 at 02:15hrs | Views
The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has denied that at least 47% of students at the institution are HIV positive.
UZ director for communications, Daniel Chihombori said in the purported survey by the Herald, the sample consisted of a few students, who voluntarily underwent HIV testing and counselling.
He said vice-chancellor, Levi Nyagura was never interviewed by the paper.
"Instead, that reporter plagiarised an earlier question-and-answer interview the vice-chancellor had with another reporter, but did not seek clarification from the university on the import of the statistics," Chihombori said.
"The report does not give the sample size (number of students, who volunteered for testing) in order to give the reader the real meaning of the research results. In misplaced excitement, the headline mistakenly gives currency to a study that was carried out around 2010. As a matter of fact, most, if not all, of the study respondents (participants) have completed their studies and left the institution."
Chihombori said the survey population should not be confused with the broader UZ total student population, then of about 12 500, as not all UZ students shared the common characteristic.
"To then say 47% of UZ students are HIV positive as if that is the current scenario, is not only mischievous, but gutter journalism of the worst kind," he said.
UZ director for communications, Daniel Chihombori said in the purported survey by the Herald, the sample consisted of a few students, who voluntarily underwent HIV testing and counselling.
He said vice-chancellor, Levi Nyagura was never interviewed by the paper.
"Instead, that reporter plagiarised an earlier question-and-answer interview the vice-chancellor had with another reporter, but did not seek clarification from the university on the import of the statistics," Chihombori said.
"The report does not give the sample size (number of students, who volunteered for testing) in order to give the reader the real meaning of the research results. In misplaced excitement, the headline mistakenly gives currency to a study that was carried out around 2010. As a matter of fact, most, if not all, of the study respondents (participants) have completed their studies and left the institution."
Chihombori said the survey population should not be confused with the broader UZ total student population, then of about 12 500, as not all UZ students shared the common characteristic.
"To then say 47% of UZ students are HIV positive as if that is the current scenario, is not only mischievous, but gutter journalism of the worst kind," he said.
Source - NewsDay
