News / Health
Mat North records 11 000 new cases of STIs
05 Feb 2014 at 13:02hrs | Views
The National Aids Council says it recorded a total of 11 000 new cases of sexually transmitted infections in Matebeleland North Province during the year 2013, figure which is a cause for concern requiring immediate action to reverse the situation.
The figure represents an increase of 3000 up from 8000 STI cases recorded in the province during the year 2012.
The province also recorded 11 000 people who went for HIV testing and 18% of these were HIV positive.
A total of 3900 people were introduced to ARV after going through counselling and other necessary sessions.
The National Aids Council Provincial Coordinator for Matebeleland North Province, Mr. Dingani Ncube said the highest affected district was Hwange owing to an abundance of coal mines followed by Tsholotsho whose cases were high due to the migrant worker population as well as Umguza due to farming activities and small scale miners.
He said awareness campaigns have been held, but the Council is facing challenges due to limited numbers of men who are participating in HIV/AIDS related issues as well as Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission.
He added that they are not able to reach out to all corners of the province due to limited resources.
Matebeleland North Province has an HIV prevalence rate of 18% which is down by 3% from 2012 when the rate was 21%.
Meanwhile, the national prevalence rate currently stands at 15%.
The figure represents an increase of 3000 up from 8000 STI cases recorded in the province during the year 2012.
The province also recorded 11 000 people who went for HIV testing and 18% of these were HIV positive.
A total of 3900 people were introduced to ARV after going through counselling and other necessary sessions.
The National Aids Council Provincial Coordinator for Matebeleland North Province, Mr. Dingani Ncube said the highest affected district was Hwange owing to an abundance of coal mines followed by Tsholotsho whose cases were high due to the migrant worker population as well as Umguza due to farming activities and small scale miners.
He said awareness campaigns have been held, but the Council is facing challenges due to limited numbers of men who are participating in HIV/AIDS related issues as well as Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission.
He added that they are not able to reach out to all corners of the province due to limited resources.
Matebeleland North Province has an HIV prevalence rate of 18% which is down by 3% from 2012 when the rate was 21%.
Meanwhile, the national prevalence rate currently stands at 15%.
Source - zbc
