STI cases up in Mhangura
HEALTH officials in Mhangura district have raised concern over the rise in sexually transmitted infections.
The revelation came after a successful free clinic and medical outreach programme organised by Makonde senator Prisca Mupfumira recently.
A nurse who took part in the outreach program said the health officials dealt with a shocking number of ailments related to STIs during the outreach programme.
“Out of the 200 people that we attended to, more than half were suffering from sexually transmitted diseases,” the official said on conditions of anonymity.
“Preliminary assessments indicated that most of them were suffering from gonorrhea and majority of them were women.”
“It is difficult for women to notice the STIs in time, thus most of them were baffled when we told them that they had the STI.”
The health official urged Government to establish clinics in the remotest areas of the district as some of the people who tested positive for the ailment came from places without clinics.
“Some of the people who tested positive are from Gravelotte, that is more than 30km away from the nearest health institution, which makes it difficult for them to access primary health care.”
Makonde district medical officer Dr Gift Masocha, however, professed ignorance over the said cases.
“Our office is currently not seized with any statistics related to that. I will have to check with the area concerned first before giving a comment because I’m getting it for the first time from you.”
He also urged youths to always practise safe sex or abstain to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS and related diseases.
“Societies, especially youths, should play their role in reducing the STI prevalence rates by indulging in safe sex or abstinence,” he said.
Dr Masocha also urged married people to be faithful. He also called for authorities to establish more health centres in the district.
Senator Mupfumira, who is also the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, launched the free outreach clinic and medical programme in Makonde administration district late last year.
The programme has seen thousands of people benefiting from the outreach in Mhangura, Makonde and Chinhoyi constituencies.