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At least half of all new HIV infections in the country are from Matabeleland, a National Aids Council official has said. In an interview recently, NAC operations director Mr Raymond Yekeye said Bulawayo had the highest new HIV infections that accounted for 20,4 percent of the total infections while Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North provinces recorded 18,6 and 15,6 percent respectively.
“New infections in these three provinces account for about 50 percent of total new infections in the country,” Mr Yekeye said. He attributed the increased HIV infections in these provinces to high human traffic in Beitbridge and the resort town of Victoria Falls.
Mr Yekeye said in light of these revelations, NAC was intensifying response efforts in these provinces.
“What this means is that our programming should also target these provinces because this is where the majority of the new infections are concentrated,” he said.
“We know that in this southern part of the country most people are not together, there is a lot of cross-border migration and that can be one of the reasons,” he said.
Mashonaland West province has the least number of new infections accounting for 12,4 percent.
Mr Yekeye said this year’s continental World Aids Day was a success as they managed to clarify some of the myths surrounding HIV in the country.
“People thought there was no longer HIV in the country, but we still have a challenge as evidenced by the new infections recorded each year,” he said.
This year’s commemorations were conducted in conjunction with the African Union and saw several other countries joining Zimbabwe in the commemorations held in Victoria Falls. According to health records, the country’s HIV investments have grown from US$150 million in 2011 to US$260 million in 2013.
Online Reporter