Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
TRUCK stops in Mutare city have been identified as major hotspots for new Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV infections as they attract a high volume of truck drivers and sex workers.
These areas, alongside high-density suburbs such as Sakubva, Dangamvura and Gimboki, have been flagged due to their significant contribution to the district’s STI and HIV burden.
In an interview on the sidelines of a National AIDS Council media tour in the city last week, Mutare Urban’s NAC District AIDS Coordinator (DAC), Ms Jean Mukoyi explained that the city’s unique position as the closest gateway to the Indian Ocean, and its role as a hub for gold and diamond trading are some of the driving factors.
She said the dynamics foster high mobility, multiple concurrent sexual partnerships, transactional sex, and Gender-Based Violence, all major drivers of HIV transmission.
“The characteristics of Mutare city shape the key drivers of HIV in the urban district. This also shapes the nature of our hotspots which are mainly truck stops near Forbes Border Post, a hotspot based on the statistics that we are receiving from that area in regards to the number of new STI and HIV infections.
“The truck stops near Forbes Border Post have high rates of new STI and HIV infections, while densely populated areas like Sakubva, Dangamvura and Gimboki also show high burdens of the disease due to the social and economic conditions there. These are hotspots based on the data that we are also analysing in terms of the STI infections and new HIV cases that are being recorded in our facilities,” she said.
The district has an HIV prevalence rate of 8,18 percent and an incidence rate of 0,12 percent, with 34 227 people estimated to be living with HIV in 2024.
Ms Mukoyi said adolescent girls and young women aged from 12 to 24 are the most affected, recording higher rates of STIs and new HIV infections compared to their male counterparts.
In response, NAC has implemented targeted interventions to address these challenges.
“Community motivators, stationed in every ward of Mutare Urban, work specifically to engage men in HIV prevention initiatives. A complementary workplace model ensures that men not reached by community-based efforts can still access education and services at their jobs,” said Ms Mukoyi.
She also said NAC has also established 72-hour Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response desks in schools to support survivors and reduce one of the key drivers of HIV transmission.
“These efforts are yielding results, as evidenced by the high number of referrals from community cadres to clinics and the subsequent uptake of services. For the 12 to 24 female age group, as NAC, we have initiated a special focus on this age group to try and address while mitigating the key drivers,” she said.
She also said they have deployed community cadres in Mutare Urban who are trained and equipped with various HIV prevention equipment such as condoms, HIV self-test kits, non-communicable diseases screening equipment such as blood pressure machines and thermometers.
“People are forthcoming in terms of receiving the services that we are providing in the community, we see this by the number of referrals that is made by our community cadres as well as the actual uptake when we do our follow ups at the various clinics, we actually see that our cadres have referred a high number of community members and that the referred members have also accessed the services,” she said.
Meanwhile, in the rural areas of Mutare District, artisanal mining communities were identified as hotspot areas as they pose another significant challenge towards the fight against HIV and AIDS.
In an interview, NAC’s DAC for Mutare Rural, Ms Kim Mubayiwa said Marange is a hotspot for new infections due to the influx of illegal diamond miners.
“Poverty is a major risk factor for HIV infection, as it can lead to transactional sex and other high-risk behaviours. In Marange, we see many young and vulnerable people engaging in these behaviours due to a lack of economic opportunities and education,” said Ms Mubayiwa.
She also said there is a prevalence of multiple concurrent sexual partnerships within these mining communities, which exacerbate the spread of STIs and HIV.
As a response, NAC’s implementing partner, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is working to provide targeted interventions in these communities.
Through initiatives like Girls Act, they deliver accurate information and services to prevent new infections and support those living with HIV.
