By Michael Gwarisa
The burden of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs) in Zimbabwe has been increasing over the past few years amidst indications that the majority of infected persons do not show any symptoms and could be spreading the STIs unknowingly.
According to official data from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), the number of STIs recorded annually has been on the increase since 2018, and majority of cases are being recorded in women.
The National Coordinator STI Prevention and Condom Distribution in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Anna Machiya told a Health Communicators Forum Media and Science Café in Harare that the STI burden is greater than the available data.
The number of officially recorded cases for STIs in Zimbabwe is just but a tip of the Iceberg and more numbers are recorded in females as opposed to males. However, what is going unrecorded is what we don’t know, and these are the asymptomatic STIs and they constitute the majority of STIs in Zimbabwe,” said Machiya.
She added that the reasons behind the increase in STI trends include inconsistent condom use, stock out of STI medicines, consumption of drugs and alcohol which then hinder our judgement and decisions, the issue of user fees, the symptomatic nature of STIs where infected individuals continue to spread the STIs unknowingly.
Vaginal Discharges constitute majority of STIs recorded in Zimbabwe with data showing that an estimated 95,000 cases were recorded in 2023. Urethra discharges also constitute about 80,000 of STIs recorded in 2023 while other forms of STIs make up about 55,000 cases. Genital Ulcers have also been on an upward trend with estimated 40,000 cases recorded in 2023 alone.
“In terms of Vaginal Discharge and from 2013, we had quite high rates but we seemed to observe some decline but around 2018, to 2020 we started to see some increases. There was a deep in 2021 but now there is an increase. For men who present with Urethral discharge, majority of them over 70 percent will be having Gonorreah.”
Zimbabwe’s approach to STIs treatment is based on syndrome and the Ministry of Health uses the syndromic approach.
“We have very few point of care tests and be able to know the specific type of that particular STI. The main aims of STIs prevention and control are to prevent the development of diseases, complications and sequelae that follows when STIs are not treated. We also want to interrupt the transmission of STIs using treatment.”
The Ministry of Health also prioritises Prevention education and information where they raise awareness and inform the public that STIs are avoidable, treatable and curable and early treatment is essential. They also inform the public regarding information about asymptomatic nature of infection in some cases and describe recognisable signs and symptoms as well as promote PEP and Presumptive STI treatment.
