Online Reporter
Victor Maphosa
Mashonaland East Bureau
THE National AIDS Council (NAC) is implementing a Sista2Sista model in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) District to curb new HIV infections, child marriages and teenage pregnancies, which are reportedly a cause of concern in the district.
According to NAC’s district aids coordinator (DAC) for UMP, Mr Owen Mupemhi, the district is one of the districts facing child marriage as well as teenage pregnancy issues, with child marriages constituting about 20 percent of the marriages taking place in the district.
There are also reports of school drop-out issues, which then feed into teenage pregnancies as well as child marriage cases being recorded in UMP.
In an interview with Zimpapers during a NAC media tour in the district, Mr Mupemhi also said antenatal care statistics indicate that HIV positivity among teenage pregnant cases that are being handled in UMP is around 15 to 20 percent.
He said there is evidence of HIV transmission among adolescent girls and young women in UMP, which prompted NAC to intervene.
“According to the macro indicator cluster surveys that were carried out in the country, UMP district, is among the remote rural districts where there are problems of child marriages and teenage pregnancies,” he said.
“Child marriages constitute around 10 to 20 percent of the marriages that are taking place in our district. This situation happens mainly due to socio-economic issues in our communities as well as school drop-outs. All these factors are feeding into issues of child marriages and teenage pregnancies.
“Child marriages and teenage pregnancies are also found to be associated with new HIV transmissions in the district. Our antinatal care statistics indicated that HIV positivity among teenage pregnant cases that are being handled in our district is around 15 to 20 percent so there is evidence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among adolescent girls and young women in pour district.
“In response, we are implementing the Sista2Sista model to strengthen STI and HIV awareness prevention among adolescent girls and young women. We actually want to halt further transmission of HIV among the adolescent girls and young women.”
He added that the model is covering 10 wards in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe and the interventions are bearing fruit.
Mr Mupemhi added that the main objective of this programme is to strengthen awareness through educational interventions.
“The Sista2Sisa mentor recruits club members of 25 each, aged 10 to 24, using a risk assessment tool to prioritise those who are at risk the most,” he said.
“The club members are taken through educational sessions in which they receive health education through a manual that guides the process.
“We also ensure that they receive all the critical HIV prevention services such as HIV testing, treatment for those found positive, STI screening and treatment, condom distribution and use, information on how to deal with issues of gender-based violence and other services.
“This model is actually an empowering intervention. Our aim is to strengthen HIV and AIDS awareness, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and holding further transmission of HIV among the club members who are going through the programme.”
“We have found it impactful. We have just realised a decline in the number of STI cases and new HIV cases among the adolescent girls and young women in the district especially in the ten wards that we are implementing the programme.”
