The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube
TSHOLOTSHO and Hwange districts have the highest number of people on treatment for HIV and Aids in Matabeleland North province, statistics from the National Aids Council (NAC) reveal.
The statistics displayed at the NAC stand at the Whange Agricultural Show last week showed that Tsholotsho district whose population is 133 961 topped in HIV and Aids cases with 10 414 adults and 1 038 children on ART followed by Hwange district where 10 237 adults and 1 015 children have been initiated from a population of 133 895.
Speaking from the NAC stand, Matabeleland North provincial co-ordinator Mr Dingani Ncube attributed the trend to a number of factors.
“Matabeleland North compares with Matabeleland South and Bulawayo whose figures are high because of proximity to the border,” he said.
“The key drivers in this province in Tsholotsho and Hwange are separation of spouses where men work in Botswana and South Africa while women are at home and for Hwange district it is because there are many mining communities and truckers.”
Binga district’s population is at 138 074 and has 4 178 adults and 380 children on ART.
However, Lupane whose population is 98 864, weighs in third with 8 308 on ART while 1 015 children are also on medication.
Nkayi district has 109 371 people and 4 499 and 428 adults and children are on ART respectively, while out of 62 188 people in Bubi district, 4 190 adults and 380 children are on ART. At least 3 084 adults and 192 children receive treatment in Umguza whose population is 87 518.
The province has a population of 743 871 people, and the Aids prevalence rate is 18,3 percent.
The national Aids prevalence rate is 15 percent.
Mr Ncube said they were targeting to test about 90 percent of the province’s population and raise awareness at most public events.
He said they had decentralised services to 85 percent of health institutions in the province which were now offering ARVs.
“We have 117 centres and seven district hospitals and 85 percent of these offer ARVs which is quite remarkable because that has shortened distance travelled by patients,” Mr Ncube said.
He said they were facing challenges of stigma and discrimination resulting in some defaulting.
“We have home based care givers following up on defaulters,” he said. “Our main aim is to close the tap on new infections and stigmatisation. As a province we want to test 90 percent people through outreach programmes and other public events and make sure 90 percent of those tested have access to services.”
New infections stand at 66 303.
NAC theme for the year is: “Getting to zero to achieve comprehensive planning and economic improvement”.
