GUTU - Masvingo Province has by far the highest number of new sexually transmitted infections (STIs') contributing 17 percent of the country's total, according to the National Aids Council report.
The large migrant labour moving between Masvingo and South Africa leaving spouses behind is suspected to be the major cause of high STI prevalence in the province. Thousands of young men from the province are working in South Africa while their wives remain behind or vice versa.
There are 44 281 people who are infected with STIs' in the province and this is five times more than the number of new STIs infection recorded in the whole of Mat North during the same period. Mat North only has 8 415 newly infected.
The most risk areas are Chiredzi district, Mushandike Resettlement about 15 kilometres outside Masvingo, settlements at Tokwe Mukosi and Renco Mine.
Peter Vhoko, the Provincial Aids Action Committee co-ordinator said at the sidelines of World Aids Day Commemorations at Rafamoyo Secondary School in Chief Munyaradzi Gutu last week that the reasons for the trends were not yet known although as results of a further study are still to come out.
"Results of a further study to explain the trends are not yet out but we suspect that migrant work is a major cause. Thousands of sexually active Zimbabweans from Masvingo are working in South Africa because of the province's close proximity to that country," said Vhoko.
Vhoko said the development should be a worry for Masvingo and the country at large because that will see an increase in Aids prevalence rate, which is against this year's theme of 'Zero new HIV infections.
"It is disappointing to note that Masvingo Province has highest STI prevalence. STIs increase the rate of HIV and AIDS transmission and this should be a worry to Masvingo and the country at large," Said Vhoko.
This year's World AIDS Day was commemorated under the theme; 'Zero new infections, zero stigmatisation and discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths'.
Provincial Administrator (PA) Felix Chikovo who was the guest of honour said Zimbabwe, like any other nation, remains heavily burdened with HIV and AIDS and that has continued to pose serious threats to the country's economic development.
"This year's theme is the beginning of the future of the national and sub-national levels' response to HIV and AIDS. HIV and AIDS have negatively affected the country in the past years and it is now everyone's responsibility that we achieve a zero new HIV infection by 2015," Said Chikovo.
Vhoko appealed to stakeholders and leaders from various sectors to unite and advocate for a change in sexual behaviour before the country realised an increase in HIV prevalence rate from the current 15%.
"We really need to change our sexual behaviour if we are to achieve zero HIV infection by 2015. We have witnessed a decline in HIV prevalence rate in the past few years but if we are not careful the situation can go back to where it was in 2000.
"I urge you both adults and teenagers to stop that unbecoming behaviour and work towards achieving zero HIV infection by 2015," Said Vhoko
- Mirror
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