Over 500 tested for STIs, screened at Chakari gala

MORE than 500 people underwent testing for sexually transmitted infections and screening for cervical cancer during a recent musical gala in Chakari, near Kadoma.

A significant number of them were elderly women who wanted to know their status. The gala was organised by the National Aids Council in Chakari as part of outreach programmes to bring health services closer to the people.

Acting Sanyati district administrator Dr Frankson Masiye said the significantly high number of elderly people seeking health services was a good development.

“This ties in with our Test All and Treat All campaign, which recognises that sexually transmitted diseases are not for any specific age group, but everyone is at risk,” said Dr Masiye.

He said women aged over 50 years, who also attended the gala and received testing services were doing the right thing as they were still sexually active.

One of the tested elderly women, Mrs Dorothy Chirwa, said sex had no age.

“I am being tested for HIV for the fifteenth time and I am happy that I came out negative on all occasions,” she said. “I do it to ensure that I know my status because you have no control over your partner’s movements.”

Out of the 516 people tested, only six were found to be HIV positive, while eight sexually transmitted infections were detected. National Aids Council provincial coordinator Mr Agrippa Zizhou said HIV and Aids musical galas that started in the main urban centres in Mashonaland West Province, would move to outlying areas.

“We are now moving to rural, farming and mining areas which have been identified as hot spots,” he said.

The galas, he said, brought more people in one place to access HIV and other related health services.