Chiredzi tops in HIV prevalence rate
THE National Aids Council and its partners have stepped up awareness campaigns and other measures to combat the spread of HIV in Chiredzi, which has the highest prevalence rate of the virus in Masvingo Province.
The town has a 15,4 percent HIV prevalence rate.
NAC Masvingo provincial co-ordinator Mr Edgar Muzulu said Masvingo District had the second highest HIV prevalence rate, according to statistics for 2016 that were released recently.
“Masvingo District covering both urban and rural areas has 13,9 percent prevalence rate, followed by Zaka (12,6 percent), Mwenezi (11,8 percent), Gutu (11,5 percent), Chivi (11,5 percent) with Bikita sitting at the tail end with 9,3 percent prevalence rate,” he said.
Mr Muzulu said according to the data, it meant that in every 100 people in Chiredzi about 15 of them had the HIV virus, while an average of nine people out of every 100 had the virus in Bikita.
“Bikita could have recorded the least rate of prevalence due to deaths, while Chiredzi has more people who are living with the virus,” he said.
Mr Muzulu said his organisation partnered with the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council, Population Services International and the Ministry of Health and Child Care to roll-out awareness campaigns, testing and treatment programmes in areas most ravaged by HIV.
Mr Muzulu said NAC and its implementing partners had also launched moonlight testing to allow marginalised and stigmatised populations such as commercial sex workers and their clients to undergo HIV tests.
Moonlight testing entails testing for HIV during the night to cater for those who mainly fear to be stigmatised by openly testing for the deadly virus.
“Key populations with high risk of contracting the virus such as prisoners and sex workers will be catered for under the moonlight testing programme,” said Mr Muzulu.
NAC has lined up musical galas and road shows to raise awareness about HIV and Aids in Masvingo province.
The organisation is also planning a golf tournament in the first week of June to raise funds for the procurement of 12 cancer screening machines for 12 selected health centres.