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women.
This has raised worries for health experts that men in the province are not taking HIV and Aids issues seriously by not being tested for the virus.
The low uptake and late commencement of treatment by men has resulted in more of them dying early as compared to women.
Speaking at the belated Mashonaland West provincial World Aids Day commemorations at Magunje Stadium in Hurungwe recently, Dr Eria Mudiwa said men should embrace programmes aimed at mitigating the effect of HIV and Aids, including ARV treatment.
“People should not be afraid to get tested and seek treatment early because it works to their advantage in terms of response to treatment,” he said.
“Men are being urged to get tested and seek treatment early for longer and healthy lives.”
Dr Mudiwa said the other challenge facing the response to HIV and Aids was the unavailability of CD4 count machines at some hospitals and clinics, which was impacting negatively on the monitoring of people initiated on ART.
Most district hospitals in the province have CD4 count machines, with the exception of Chegutu and Sanyati district hospitals.
People in Chegutu and Sanyati go for up to two years without getting a review of their CD4 levels.
In a speech read on his behalf by Hurungwe district administrator Ms Tsana Chirau, Governor and Resident Minister Faber Chidarikire expressed concern at the low uptake of ART by men.
“The figures we have show that 65 percent of all people who are on ART are females compared to about 35 percent for their male counterparts,” he said.
Governor Chidarikire said Aids-based organisations such as National Aids Council should find ways of reaching out to people in stable relationships who are now at greater risk of contracting HIV.
“In responding to the fact that more infections are occurring in stable relationships, I would like to challenge NAC and its partners to find the best ways of reaching out to people in such scenarios, with re-targeted HIV prevention messages,” he said.
Online Reporter