MATABELELAND South province has recorded the highest HIV incidence rate in the country compared to other provinces due to high mobility of people in the province.
This was revealed during media briefing by the City of Bulawayo’s Health Services Department at the Tower Block Building on Friday.
The province’s rate currently stands at 0,34% while Matabeleland North province comes second at 0,21% and Bulawayo province’s stands at 0,13%.
National Aids Council programmes officer for Bulawayo, Douglas Moyo attributed the high incidence rate in the Matabeleland region to the mobility of the population as it travels to neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Botswana.
“The high mobility of people in the provinces is the reason behind the high incidence rate. I am sure you all know there is a high number of people from there who work across the country’s border. These people leave to go and work and come back to visit their families,” Moyo said.
Moyo said spouse separation was a contributory factor to the spread of HIV.
“There is no safe place, so let’s not get comfortable with the fact that Bulawayo is one of the provinces with the lowest incidence rates. All I am saying is that there is a higher chance of you being infected with HIV if you have unprotected sex within Matabeleland South as compared to doing so in other provinces,” he said.
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