Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube- Matutu,[email protected]
GOKWE South District has a 71 percent Antenatal Care (ANC) coverage following concerns that some pregnant mothers were not visiting health facilities despite having them in their vicinity.
According to statistics from the National AIDS Council mother to child transmission occurred significantly among the 20-24 year age group as compared to the 25-29 and 30-34 year age groups. Gokwe South had a 71 percent ANC coverage for the period October 2023 to July 2024.
Home deliveries and failure by expecting mothers to access Antenatal Care (ANC) has been identified as one of the causes of new HIV infections thereby stalling progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The National AIDS Council (Nac) working with the Ministry of Health and Child Care has engaged traditional leaders under a Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme.
Health officials are moving across health facilities in the district meeting with chiefs, village heads and community members to disseminate information on PMTCT.
Under the initiative traditional leaders have been tasked to put in place regulations to ensure women seek ANC services and deliver at health facilities.
In an interview during a media tour for journalists organised by Nac Gokwe South health promotions officer, Mr Tendai Mhloro said accessing ANC services on time allows an expecting mother who is HIV positive to receive medication which can protect the child from being infected while those who are negative can maintain their status.
Gokwe South District Aids Coordinator, Mr Isaki Chiwara said addressing mother to child transmission is crucial in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
“In the district we have a problem of mother to child transmission of HIV caused mainly by failure of mothers to access ANC services. Some expecting mothers don’t go for booking while others deliver at home and this results in the transmission of the virus to the unborn child. This is stalling progress in the fight against HIV as a nation we want to achieve zero new infections.
“This will not be possible if such tendencies persist. This engagement and education exercise seeks to raise awareness among communities as we seek to promote responsible behaviors. It takes involvement of the community to ensure the fight against HIV and AIDS is a success,” he said.
The district has an HIV prevalence of 5,9 percent across all ages while the prevalence for ages between 15 to 49 years is 9,2 percent.
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