56pc of sex workers HIV+, says NAC

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Research by the National Aids Council indicates that although the national HIV and Aids prevalence has been declining in the past two years, prevalence is four times high in other community groups like commercial sex workers. NAC monitoring and evaluation director Mr Amon Mpofu told parliamentarians on a countrywide tour and capacity building programme on HIV and Aids interventions that although the prevalence rate nationally stood at 13,8 percent as of December 31 last year, down from 15,3 the previous year, indications were that 56,4 percent of commercial sex workers were infected.

“It is sad to note that although we are making efforts to reduce new infections we still have a problem in other community groups among them commercial sex workers and those in densely populated areas like growth points where the incidence rate is increasing,” said Mr Mpofu.

“We have mapped out some of the high risk areas which include Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and Manicaland provinces and research on 1 000 sex workers shows that prevalence rate on sex workers aged between 18 and 24 years stands at 36 percent, 25 to 29 (55 percent), 30 to 39 (69 percent) and those aged 40 years and above its 77 percent,” he said.

Mr Mpofu said it was important for parliamentarians and traditional leaders to play a leading role in formulating effective HIV and Aids intervention policies. He said it was important for the Government to focus on key population areas in the country who needed specific needs in implementing intervention programmes.

“We need to seriously look at sector communities. As NAC we will continue providing services and capacity building programmes,” he said. Mr Mpofu said in 2015 alone they recorded 57 087 new infections.

He said around 1,4 million people were living with HIV and Aids with 6 percent of those being children. Mr Mpofu said Zimbabwe had managed to reduce the rate of infections by 58 percent by 2015 against a global target of 50 percent.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care Dr Ruth Labode said the Government should increase funding to health service to 15 percent in line with the Abuja Declaration.

“At the moment Government is allocating a mere 7 percent to health and this leaves us with a great challenge of putting an end to HIV and Aids infections by 2030. We need to review our health policies and double our efforts to ensure that we can completely put an end to the scourge of HIV and Aids,” she said.