STIs rife in Chirundu

Walter Nyamukondiwa in CHIRUNDU
NEARLY 80 percent of commercial sex workers tested in Chirundu over the past two months have sexually transmitted infections.

The infections are in various forms and stages.

This comes amid various interventions by non-governmental organisations and the National Aids Council to increase awareness among this key STI driver population.

Tests conducted from June 1 to August 31 showed that out of 167 sex workers, 129 of them had STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and Aids and syphilis.

This is despite wide distribution of both male and female condoms among sex workers amid indications that some of their clients opt for unprotected intercourse after paying more.

Speaking during a tour of Chirundu Wellness Centre, Centre for Sexual Health HIV and AIDS Research (CeSSHAR) site leader Sister Varaidzo Muchina said there was an increase in the number of STIs in the border town.

“Of the 167 sex workers who visited our site between June 1 and August 31 and were tested for HIV, 129 of them were found to have STIs and they were treated,” she said.

“We can say that the cases are increasing.

“However, this is despite the distribution of condoms. The increase can be attributed to the high mobility of sex workers and their clients who are mostly truck drivers.”

The media tour was organised by the NAC to witness first-hand interventions in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

It also sought to witness how communities were coping with HIV-related challenges.

Chirundu has a recorded population of over 1 000 sex workers who usually target truck drivers and other travellers in the border town.

This comes amid reports that truck drivers pick and drop sex workers in centres and towns along their North-South corridor voyage.

Some of them reportedly offer more for unprotected sex.

A sex worker at the centre, said they risk being infected after they are offered a significantly higher charge for unprotected intercourse.

Of major concern was the incident of repeat infection.

One of the sex workers interviewed said she had attended to around 300 clients since she started the trade in 2 000.

“I have been in the trade for the past 18 years and in that period I have been with men enough to fill three buses.

“It was not by choice, but only that I wanted to look after my children after the left and never returned,” she said.