Traditional leaders in Gokwe compliment NAC’s HIV response programming

BRENNA MATENDERE

TRADITIONAL leaders in Gokwe have been roped in by the National AIDS Council (NAC) to play a critical role in HIV response programming, resulting in the two districts recording the lowest prevalence statistics in Midlands province.

The HIV prevalence in Gokwe South for all age groups is 5.9%, while for Gokwe North it is 3.9%.

The statistics are far lower than all other districts in the province, with the highest being Kwekwe, which sits at a record 16%.

Kwekwe becomes the highest on the table of the ten districts.

Isaac Chiwara, the Gokwe South District AIDS Coordinator, said the game changer has been roping in traditional chiefs.

“The chiefs have been helping in gathering their subjects for us to get platforms to offer services and HIV education sessions in their communities. They have also been amplifying our messages on HIV, and that has done a lot to reduce HIV prevalence in Gokwe,” he said.

In Gokwe South, the chiefs are also joining hands with NAC to battle the web of fear, stigma and mistrust engulfing men when it comes to HIV.

“Most people who come for testing are women, especially pregnant women during antenatal visits, but men are very sceptical. So we have been engaging headmen and village heads to speak to men on HIV services, and this has worked a lot,” said Sister Farisai Mlambo, the nurse in charge at Katema Clinic in Gokwe South.

Nomatter Kadande, the Community Health and District HIV Focal Person, said they will continue to engage the communities.

She said it will be imperative for everyone to put hands on deck and fight HIV.

“What has been worrying is the low delivery rate in this area, where we are having one delivery a month. That means the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV becomes high because people are delivering at home. This is what we are now turning our attention to, so that our figures of HIV prevalence remain low,” she said.

Nomore Bare, a villager in Gokwe South, said the involvement of chiefs in the HIV response is bearing fruit.

“Our culture forbids us from using condoms. However, the chiefs are now urging us to use them to prevent HIV infections, and many are beginning to change their behaviour,” he said.

The chiefs are also changing the belief that getting tested is only for weak men.