Goromonzi district tops in STI infections

MARONDERA- Goromonzi district continues to top in Sexually Transmitted
Infections (STIs) in Mashonaland East province, with calls being made for more
intervention programmes to be rolled out.

The District AIDS Coordinator (DAC) Graham Mafoko revealed this when he gave a
presentation on the province’s prevention programmes at a stakeholders meeting
held in Marondera recently.

As at the second quarter of this year, the district recorded 1 829 STI cases while the
province’s total number for such cases stood at 6 549.

Mafoko said: “When it comes to STI cases that are recorded in the province, it is
unfortunate that Goromonzi comes top and for the wrong reasons. In the second
quarter of this year, we recorded 1 829 cases.

“However, most of these were imported cases that were however recorded in the
district. Because of Goromonzi’s geographical set-up, you find that the district is
closer to Harare and most people come from the capital to be treated for STIs since
we have facilities that do not charge a fee for STI treatment.

That is unlike in Harare where health facilities charge a fee. That is why many people
opt to come to Goromonzi hence the high number of cases recorded.”
He called for more STI education for the people that include the distribution of, and
encouraging people to correctly and consistently use condoms by stakeholders such
as the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe National Family Planning
Council (ZNFPC) and Zichire.

“Our emphasis, as we fight against the spreading of STIs, should be centered on
ensuring continuous condom availability. They must be availed in beerhalls and
other public places,” he said.

In the meantime, Mafoko stated that the province had introduced several HIV
intervention models to address a plethora of HIV-related challenges especially
among the youth.

Mashonaland East is confronted with a myriad of HIV-related challenges, which
include child marriages, drug and substance abuse, multiple concurrent partnerships
and school dropouts.

To try and address these challenges, the province, through the National AIDS
Council (NAC) and other various implementing partners developed a model
approach for implementation in all districts.

“We have HIV intervention models in the province and they include the Brotha 2
Brotha programme which is run in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe and Marondera
districts, the Sista 2 Sista programme Goromonzi, Seke, Murehwa and Hwedza as
well as the DREAMS programmes in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe, Chikomba and
Marondera districts.

“The major target populations for these programmes include adolescent girls and
young women, adolescent boys and young men, artisanal miners, sex workers and
farm workers,” Mafoko said.

The most popular of these programmes is the DREAMS (Determined, Resilient,
Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe girls and women) which is benefitting
nearly 2 000 children in the province.

It is meant to empower the girl child and reduce the incidence of HIV at the same
time.