adminRobin Muchetu Senior Reporter
BULAWAYO has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the country, the National Aids Council has said, probably fuelled by rampant teenage unprotected sexual encounters at wild house parties popularly known as vuzu parties.
National Aids Council director Monitoring and Evaluation Mr Amon Mpofu said Bulawayo topped the prevalence at 21,78 percent while Matabeleland South is at 18,57 percent.
The rates are above the national average prevalence rate of 14,92 percent. He said NAC has identified the two areas as hot spots hence the need for increased awareness.
“The southern region is hardest hit by the epidemic, Bulawayo is actually above the national prevalence rate. Matabeleland South and North also have the highest concentration of people living with the virus,” said Mr Mpofu.
This situation, Mr Mpofu said, was a sign that there is continued infection of people which is a cause for concern.
“This shows that in these regions, infection levels are high meaning that transmission is also on the high and we have to try and mitigate this,” he said.
NAC said the most affected are the adolescents in Bulawayo chiefly because of the sudden sprouting of house parties popularly known as vuzu parties where new infections are emerging.
They said the younger population is engaging in unprotected and gang sex at these parties leading to an increase in new infections. The police have tried to no avail to stop the vuzu parties where young children engage in drugs and alcohol.
In Matabeleland South the causes of high infection have been attributed to the high mobility of people across the national boundaries.
“There is high mobility in Matabeleland South, there are cross border traders who are always on the move so infection is also high. Spousal separation is another factor.
“Many people are working in South Africa and Botswana so spouses are not together for long periods, over time they become unfaithful and get infected in the process,” he said.
Prostitution is also a key driver of HIV in the two provinces, said Mr Mpofu, adding that some sex workers were offering clients unprotected sex in a bid to raise more money.
NAC, however, said they were prioritising Bulawayo and Matabeleland South in their programming so as to try and curb new infections.
“We have changed focus now and are putting these provinces on high priority in terms of education, there is a need for increased prevention strategies so that there are no new infections,” said Mr Mpofu.
Matabeleland North was, however, named the best province as NAC surpassed its target and has most people who are infected and are on Antiretrovirals including those that are living outside the country. They still come to Zimbabwe to access drugs.
Harare has the highest number of people who are living with HIV and also taking ARVs. This has been attributed to the fact that there were population dynamics as there are more people in the area than any other province.
The national incidence rate is estimated at 0,98 percent except for Bulawayo with the highest estimated at 2,5 percent and Matabeleland South at 1,4 percent.
NAC noted that female HIV prevalence was generally higher than that of males over the years therefore investments should prioritise female focused interventions.
NAC said Matabeleland South has been encouraged to focus more on prevention since it has the highest 10-year average prevalence of 20,6 percent, yet it has the lowest number of people living with HIV. Harare and Manicaland provinces have to focus more on treatment as they have the highest number of people living with HIV and a 10-year average of 14,2 and 15,2 percent respectively.
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