Goromonzi has intensified HIV services by implementing a cocktail of intervention programmes across the district.
National Aids Council (NAC) district Aids coordinator for Goromonzi Graham Mafoko said NAC was working with the Health ministry and a number of partners in HIV programmes, targeting mainly key populations.
He said NAC has also launched various HIV prevention models to scale up prevention services to communities in the district.
Mafoko said the interventions programmes were targeted at HIV hotspots.
“We have HIV hotspots and these include Mverechena, Showground, Juru growth point (Bhora), Majuru and Mtangadura,” he said.
“As NAC in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care working with our partners we make sure that we reach out to these hotspots.
“We have a number of programmes that are supported by our partners and those that fund as NAC.”
He said his organisation was implementing a workplace peer led model targeting farms and mines.
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“As NAC we are implementing our programmes focusing on farms and mines,” he said.
“One such programme is the workplace peer-led model.
“We have 20 peer mentors across the districts who are working with communities.”
Mafoko said NAC partners the Health ministry on outreach programmes where services such HIV testing and counselling, STI screening, PreP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) are offered.
He said Goromonzi tops on STIs in Mashonaland East province and is third on HIV prevalence and attributed this to mining and farming activities coupled by the proximity of the district to Harare.
Richard Muchena, who was among people accessing health services at Chabwino farm in Goromonzi, expressed gratitude over doorstep health services.
“I am here to access health services and we welcome the noble cause,” he said.
“Apart from the outreach programmes, we are getting support from peer-led mentors in our communities.
“There are also awareness programmes and condom distribution programmes.”
Never Chako, a peer-led mentor in ward 8, said they were happy that the workplace peer-led model was bearing fruit.
“The programme is paying dividends as we are seeing a change in men’s health seeking behaviour,” he said.
