National AIDS Council, Chipinge District AIDS Coordinator, Doreen Fadzai Jambaya
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA IN CHIPINGE
Transactional sex and drug and substance abuse are key drivers of new HIV infections in Chipinge District hotspot areas, National AIDS Council (NAC), District AIDS Coordinator Doreen Fadzai Jambaya has said.
Jambaya revealed that the district has several hotspot areas for new HIV infections and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
She shared this with journalists during a NAC media tour of Manicaland Province, a precursor to the World AIDS Day commemorations set for Rusape this Sunday.
According to HIVinfo, drug and substance use “can lead to risky behaviours (such as condomless sex or sharing needles) that increases the chance of getting HIV or passing it on to others.”
UNAIDS defines transactional sex as “non-marital, non-commercial sexual relationship motivated by an implicit assumption that sex will be exchanged for material support and other benefits.”
Similarly, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that “transactional sex elevates the risk of HIV acquisition among young women, especially when it involves frequent exchange of money and or gifts.”
Said Jambaya: “So in terms of our hotspot areas in Chipinge, we have 38 wards, but we have hotspot areas in terms of new HIV-positive cases and also STI cases.
“So in terms of our new HIV infections hotspot areas, we have Checheche, we have Chipinge Town, we have Gaza, Junction Gate, Paidamoyo, and Chibuwe.
“Then in terms of STIs, we have got Mabee area, Chinyamukwaka, Chipinge Town, then also Tongogara, then also Tanganda and Paidamoyo.
“So in terms of our hotspot situation analysis, in Gaza or Chipinge Town, location characteristics include a number of densely populated areas, also sex work, then also informal trading.
“Then the key driver there is transactional sex and also issues to do with drug and substance abuse,” said Jambaya.
Chipinge District Development Coordinator William Mashava highlighted that despite strict laws against drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe, they (drugs) still make their way into the country from neighbouring Mozambique.
“There is quite a lot of work which needs to be done, as you have been told it’s a border community and our border is porous.
“There is a lot of movement at the border with Mozambique, and there are quite a number of other issues.
“Like for instance, for drug and substance abuse, there is a serious challenge because they (drugs) are smuggled into this country, so our security forces have quite a tall order to contain the situation.
“So though we have strict laws here, in Mozambique they see Zimbabwe as a market for the drugs and substances,” added Mashava.
Jambaya added that Chipinge District comprises 38 wards—30 rural and eight urban—all served by 52 health facilities and four satellite clinics.
“Then in terms of HIV prevalence, our prevalence rate in Chipinge District is at 7,9 percent, and our incidence rate is at 0,12 percent.
“Then in terms of the total number of people living with HIV, we have 19,725.
“This is according to 2024 HIV estimates,” said Jambaya.
She added that NAC had adopted a multisectoral response to HIV, working with several stakeholders, including the government, to implement various programs including DREAMS, Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC), key populations, Sista2Sista, Brotha2Brotha amongst others.
Other key drivers of HIV infections in the district include high mobility due to cross-border movement, child marriages, intergenerational relationships, low youth health-seeking behaviour, and low condom use.
