Counselling across the province.
Provincial Aids co-ordinator Mr Wilfred Dube said the campaign was fairly successful despite failing to meet the target of testing 50 000 people.
A total of 38 847 people were tested for HIV infection and 3 812 tested positive.
Chikomba district had the highest number of people at 6 751 who were tested for HIV, with 438 testing positive.
The least number of people tested was in Mudzi district (2 102), with 180 testing positive.
In Mutoko district, 3 149 people were tested and 365 were positive, while in UMP 3 605 people were tested with 203 being HIV positive.
Seke district saw 5 071 people being tested with 744 being positive, Marondera had 4 521 people tested with 550 turning out to be positive. Goromonzi recorded 446 positive cases out of 3 668 people tested, while Hwedza recorded 382 positive cases out of 4 529.
In Murehwa district, 5 451 people were tested and 504 turned out to be HIV positive.
Mr Dube said they carried out the campaign in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.
“The response was generally good, and we would like to express our gratitude to local chiefs, district administrators and council executive officers for mobilising people.
“The objective of the programme was to provide an opportunity for people to know their HIV status, and then act responsibly,” said Mr Dube.
Meanwhile, the Marondera District Aids Action Committee (DAAC) is continuing with HIV awareness campaigns targeting workplaces. The programme seeks to reinforce prevention and education through interaction at workplaces.
The DAAC is concentrating on behaviour change, reproductive health, child abuse, positive living as well as voluntary testing and counselling. Concern has lately been raised that workers were being left out of various Aids programmes because most of the time they would be occupied with their professional day-to-day activities.
This means that information eludes them, hence the idea to reach them directly at their workplaces and sensitise them on the pandemic.
The programme is also seeking to improve relations between employers and employees, and design action-oriented programmes that would lead to the workers eventually taking full ownership of the initiatives.
Organisations and companies that have so far sought the services of the DAAC include Proton Bakeries, Marondera Rural District Council, Spar, Zesa Holdings, Delta Beverages, POSB and Mashco.



