Online Reporter
Mashudu Mambo, Chronicle Writer
TSHOLOTSHO District has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in Matabeleland North Province at 22.7 percent, in a province where about 90 000 people are living with the virus.
HIV prevalence refers to the percentage of people living with HIV at a particular place and period.
The district surpasses the national HIV prevalence rate, which currently stands at around 11.7 percent.
This high rate has been attributed to migration and spousal separation, according to the National Aids Council (NAC).
NAC provincial manager for Matabeleland North, Mr Dingaan Ncube, gave the update during the Matabeleland North Provincial Development Committee (PDC) meeting held last week in Lupane.
“The district has recorded about 22.7 percent of HIV prevalence. According to the 2023 statistics by NAC, the estimated number of people living with HIV in the province is about 89 389,” he said.
Mr Ncube said there are a number of districts with a high HIV prevalence rate as compared to the provincial prevalence rate.
“The provincial adult HIV prevalence for 15 years and above was estimated to be 15.6 percent but Tsholotsho, Lupane, Umguza, Nkayi and Hwange districts have a significantly high HIV prevalence rate, which is above the provincial prevalence rate,” he said.
He stated that women and girls are at risk of being affected by these HIV infections more than their male counterparts.
“The face of HIV in this province is female and young. These infections are happening among young people and predominantly girls. Girls aged 15-24 are mainly at risk of contracting HIV,” he said.
Mr Ncube indicated that the increase in the number of new cases is due to spousal separation and the reluctance of the youth to use condoms during sexual intercourse.
“As a province, the key drivers of HIV are predominantly low and inconsistent condom use, spousal separation and low-risk perception. Spousal separation is mainly because most married men in the province either work in South Africa or Botswana while their female counterparts remain behind,” he said.
This separation has led to cases of spouses engaging in sexual activities with other people, as they are only in contact with their partners largely during Christmas or Easter Holidays when those outside the country visit Zimbabwe.
Mr Ncube highlighted that they have a number of strategies in place to curb the spread of HIV in the province.
“We have high-impact interventions that we are putting in place and these strategies put the youth at the forefront of the developmental projects that we are working on in the province,” he said.
Behaviour change has been highlighted as one of the key interventions countrywide so that young people stop their casual approach of engaging in unprotected sexual activities to prevent infection.
HIV testing and counseling are also critical to ensure that people know their status and are put on ARVs in time and to prevent the further spread of the virus.
NAC also highlights the importance of correct and consistent use of condoms as a measure.
Mr Ncube added that there is a need to continue the fight against some non-communicable conditions, which have led to a high mortality rate.
“People with HIV, who are on antiretrovirals are now living healthier and longer. We are, however, losing some of our colleagues due to non-communicable diseases.
“These are predominantly issues to do with cancer, hypertension and diabetes. We embrace the issue of interpreting non-communicable diseases as much as we are also embracing drug and substance abuse and mental health issues,” he said.
There has also been a significant decline in HIV prevalence among the 15-49-year age group during the past five years. This can be attributed to various HIV prevention programmes implemented across the province.
“In 2019, we recorded about 17.8 percent, in 2020 it was about 16.7 percent, in 2021 it was 15.9 percent, in 2022 we recorded 15.2 percent and in 2023 we recorded 14.5 percent,” he said.
