THE HIV response in Matebeleland South has been improving dropping the prevalence and incidence rates in the province owing to consistent massive campaigns by the National AIDS Council (NAC) over the past 11 years.
By Kuda Pembere recently in Gwanda
This was said by the former NAC Mat South Provincial Manager Mr Isaia Abureni during a media tour around his province organised by the organization.
Despite the province ranking the highest in terms of HIV prevalence in the country in most of the years, its incidence dropped by more than half between 2011 and 2022.
When I joined NAC in 2004, the prevalence and incidence for HIV was very high. For example in 2011, the incidence was 0.88 percent which was pretty high. But as of 2022, it has gone down to 0.33 percent. A reduction of more than 50 percent,” he said.
He also noted that while Mat South had the highest prevalence in the country, theirs also dropped.
“I am sure you are aware that Matebeleland South has the highest prevalence in the country. So in 2013, the prevalence was 23.5 percent but currently it is around 17 percent which is still high. We are not so bothered about the prevalence, it just relates to the cumulative number of people living with HIV.
“Actually, if it decreases we become concerned because it means that people living with HIV are dying. We are saying the incidence is the one we are really concerned if it increases. And also for the prevalence,” Mr Abureni said.
Although we have the highest, in terms of numbers, the people living with HIV, we are almost the least in the country. It is not high. I think it is one of our achievements as a region. I am very much proud to say we are seeing a reduction in incidence in Mat South and the prevalence is also going down in sympathy with the incidence.”
Mr Abureni also said they have over 100 000 HIV positive people who are on ART.
“We have an excess of 100 000 who are on ART and Ministry of Health on their records, we dont currently have anyone who is on the waiting list. “The people who are on HIV they are automatically put on the ART program unless if they are tested, they go without coming back. But they are counselled and advised to come back for the ART program.,” he said.
NAC Mat South has seven focal districts namely Gwanda being the provincial capital, Insiza, Beitbridge, Matobo, Bulilima, Mangwe, and Umzingwane.
According to Mr Abureni, most hotspots have sex workers and artisanal miners.
“We started identifying hotspots where we believe transmission is high. We have night clubs, brothels. We also have artisanal miners mainly in Gwanda where there are a lot of gold deposits. And we have young people here for gold. and as they do that they also attract sex workers. So we are seeing a lot of sex workers moving to the province and they are patronizing the gold panners. And we know that some of them might not use the prevention methods of HIV,” he said noting they target sex workers as they frequent mining towns and border towns the most.
He said, “Sex workers frequent border towns and we have also targeted the sex workers because they move from place to place. They sell sex and as they do so, they may not be using prevention methods of HIV. We talk to them and nowadays they are now open. They are no longer afraid of the law enforcement agents. We have spoken with them. We discussed with them. They are not in any way interfering with then unless it is something illegal things to do with drugs and so forth.”
