BY NHAU MANGIRAZI
HURUNGWE district registered a spike in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) despite increased campaigns on condom use, district administrator Makepeace Muzenda has said. He also disclosed that the district recorded a high number of teenage pregnancies.
Speaking at an international condom day event in Karoi on Saturday, Muzenda said in 2017 there were 4 486 new STI cases which increased to 4 965 in 2018, which is a 7% increase.
“Disparity in HIV prevalence by sex is most pronounced among young people aged between 20 and 24 years with HIV prevalence among females being three times more than males,” she said.
Ironically, a total of 3 093 884 male and 168 088 female condoms were distributed against an uptake of 3 057 408 and 122 228, respectively.
The Hurungwe district Aids co-ordinating committee (DAAC)) has the largest geographical coverage covering 36 wards within three local authorities including Karoi Town Council, Hurungwe Rural District Council and Chirundu Local Board.
Major hotspots are Magunje Growth Point, the Harare-Chirundu Highway, Karoi urban and Chikuti gold panning area as well as Lynx Mine.
“The district, characterised by the existence of high risk groups that includes commercial sex workers, gold panners, truck drivers and soldiers, is battling to contain STI spike,” the DAAC statement read.
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A teenager, Tariro Banda (not her real name), confessed that peer pressure as well as the prevailing economic crisis was forcing youths to indulge in unprotected sex that has seen most being infected with STIs.
“The current economic crisis is forcing us into prostitution. This is our only source of income,” she said.
Muzenda appealed for correct condom use.
“I urge Zimbabweans to safeguard their lives through correct and consistent use of condoms and other HIV preventative methods to prevent unplanned pregnancies and new HIV infections,” she said.
