The Sunday News
Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO province has recorded 24 000 cases of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the year 2014, a slap in the face of efforts to reduce HIV and Aids transmission, the National Aids Council (NAC) has revealed.NAC provincial co-ordinator Mr Evos Makoni told Sunday News recently that the most fertile grounds for STIs comprise “flash spots” like growth points, institutions of higher learning and small towns.
He said 24 029 people were infected with STIs between January and September 2014 and Nemamwa Growth Point, 25km South-East of Masvingo, had the highest number of STI cases. This could be attributed to the fact that people from Masvingo City sneak out and get treatment from the outskirts in order to avoid being seen.
Mr Makoni said the statistics were worrying and subverted the gains in the response to the HIV and Aids pandemic.
He said Zimbabwe had managed to reduce the prevalence rate from about 23 percent to about 14 percent and was praised for such a milestone.
Masvingo’s flash spots are Nemamwa Growth Point, Ngundu Growth Point, Mpandawana Town, Madamombe Business Centre and Chiredzi Town.
“The situation is worrying especially when you find clinics within academic institutions recording increases in cases of STI every time. We record at least 70 cases after every three months at Great Zimbabwe Clinic. Students and youths are our future but when you see the trends at which they contract STIs, we are not going anywhere as a province and nation. Once you have contracted an STI, the chances for you to contract the virus will be high. Those with STIs are susceptible to HIV infection,” said Mr Makoni.
He said while the provincial figure depicted a slight fall as compared to 2013 figures, the province remained one of the top four in the number of STI cases while Harare remained at the top with 53 000 cases recorded between January and June this year.
