Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
MATABELELAND South Province continues to be disproportionally burdened with HIV with all its seven districts recording a prevalence rate above the national average of 9,8 percent.
Bulilima, Mangwe and Gwanda have HIV prevalence rates higher than the provincial average of 15 percent.
According to statistics from the National Aids Council (NAC) Bulilima has the highest with 17,6 percent followed by Mangwe with 16,8 percent while Gwanda has a prevalence of 15, 8 percent.
Beitbridge has a prevalence rate of 14,5 percent followed by Matobo with 13,8 percent while Insiza has 13,6 percent. Umzingwane has the lowest at 13,3 percent.
The statistics also show that the HIV incidence in the province is notably higher than the national average, with the incidence rate of 0,20 percent compared to the national figure of 0,14 percent.
All districts exceed the national rate. Mangwe has the highest incidence rate at 0,27, followed by Bulilima at 0,26. Umzingwane, Insiza, Matobo and Gwanda report slightly lower rates with 0,17, 0,18, 0,18 and 0,19 respectively.
Beitbridge incidence rate of 0,20 percent matches the overall provincial average.
Addressing journalists on Monday during a media tour, NAC’s Matabeleland South provincial manager, Mr Mgcini Sibanda, said the statistics call for urgent targeted public health interventions, prevention efforts and increased access to treatment.
He said stigma and discrimination continue to be major stumbling blocks in HIV prevention and urged the media to play a leading role in informing and educating members of the public on the importance of knowing their HIV status.
“We continue to bear a disproportional burden to HIV in the country with most of our districts recording HIV prevalence rates above the national average. This means as a province we need to double our efforts and speak with one voice,” said Mr Sibanda.
“The main challenge that we are facing in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS is stigma. Most of our communities shun HIV testing and other services because of stigma, which is both internal and external,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said there is need for the media to disseminate information and educate the people so that they appreciate the importance of testing for HIV/AIDS.
He said HIV prevention strategies, which are being implemented focus more on community based initiatives and communties need to accept that those that test positive to HIV can live normal lives if they receive treatment.
Mr Sibanda said NAC was implementing integrated combination prevention outreaches whereby different players in the prevention, mitigation and care take services to the targeted areas.
He said there were also structural and behavioural interventions that have been put in place to respond to the vulnerability of key populations.
Mr Sibanda some of interventions programmes were now being funded locally following the withdrawal of some donors.
He said all efforts were being directed at ensuring that the interventions are cost-effective and sustainable.
“Our efforts are to reach key populations with an evidence-based package that will seek to address their individual vulnerabilities. We have the Sista2Sista model, which is targeting adolescent girls and young women and the Behaviour Change Community Model (BCCM) programme, which is targeting mostly young boys and men,” said Mr Sibanda.
“The BCCM model seeks to promote behaviour change among males and motivate them to access HIV testing services and post HIV test support services.”
He said interventions like the Community ART Refill Group (CARG), which is under the treatment and mitigation pillar are targeting people living with HIV.
In other interventions, NAC is taking its services to mobile populations such as artisanal miners.
“Our 2026 to 2030 strategic plan seeks to prioritise and re-prioritise our HIV interventions. The strategy acknowledges the good work and the investments that have been made in the past.
“We are now reaching a stage where we want to consolidate and sustain the gains that we have made over the years,” said Mr Sibanda.
“Our prioritisation is guided by epidemiological data so that we use the limited resources to maximise our impact. This is a shift from a uniform approach to a targeted approach where we are looking at the populations that have the highest burden.”
Mr Sibanda said populations that are at risk include adolescent girls and young women, sex workers, artisanal miners and cross-border truck drivers, among others.
-@DubeMatutu CKD NT
