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Patrick Chitumba Victoria Falls Reporter
Cases of Sexually Transmitted Infections rose to 11,000 in Matabeleland North last year from 8,000 in 2012. National Aids Council (NAC) provincial co-ordinator, Dingani Ncube said the 3,000 increase was a cause for concern.“The province recorded 11,000 cases of STI cases last year up from 8,000 recorded in 2012 meaning we went up by 3,000 cases. This is a cause for concern as it shows behaviour has not changed in some communities and individuals,” Ncube said.

“This figure shows that there could be a similar trend on HIV and it might mean that new infections could have happened and this is a cause for concern requiring immediate action to reverse the situation. This is very worrisome because we are aiming at zero percent new infection rate by the end of 2015.”

Ncube said Hwange was the most affected district followed by Tsholotsho and Umguza.  He, however, said there were no indications that mining and tourism activities in Hwange district contributed to the upsurge in STI cases.

Regarding Tsholotsho, Ncube said the cases could be linked to Zimbabweans working mainly in South Africa while Umguza cases were linked to farming activities and small-scale mining.

Ncube said they were going to intensify door to door HIV and Aids awareness campaigns on behaviour change.
“On the way forward we want to increase awareness campaigns by embarking on door- to-door campaigns focusing on individuals and the community at large. We want to advocate for inward behaviour change,” he said.

Ncube said 3,900 people were introduced  to ARVs last year after undergoing counselling.