Upsurge in HIV cases in Francistown
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Wednesday June 28, 2017 17:10
She said this was due to the closure of mines in Francistown and Selebi-Phikwe, low condom use and cultural practices.
She revealed this through a telephonic interview with Mmegi using a report of the just ended ‘The Zebra Kick-Out’ STI/TB/HIV out of the greater Francistown Health District project.
Francistown Sylvia Muzila mayor launched the campaign on September 17, 2016.
Setshego said that they are seeing these increases despite the measures put in place.
She disclosed that the most affected are the low socio-economic areas such as the Blocks, Bluetown, and Monarch and Somerset West location, Area W location, Jamataka and Serule.
She said that people welcomed the initiative with both hands and a total of 5,713 people were reached since September 2016, of which 3,525 were females and 2,188 were males.
She said that more people wanted to be tested for different diseases but due to financial constraints they did not manage.
Setshego said that one of the leading factors which fuels the new cases are cultural, where men believe that they are entitled to have multiple concurrent partners.
Setshego said that other factors include the migration of commercial sex workers from Selebi-Phikwe to Serule and Francistown. She added that alcohol abuse is also a major contributor.
“Abusing alcohol can impair judgment, leading a person to engage in risky sexual behaviours. Moreover people who drink heavily may delay getting tested for HIV and, if they do test positive, they may postpone seeking treatment which is very risky,” she said.
She said that during the campaign people were willing to know their HIV status and a total of 3,323 clients tested for HIV, of which 1,579 were males and 1,744 females.
She disclosed that out this 63 females and 72 males tested positive together with 629 who were already on HAART.
Setshego revealed that they managed to test 593 people for the first time.
She also said that babies under the age of five were tested for HIV, and out of these only one tested positive.
She further said mothers were retested and one was found positive.
Setshego stated that a total of 2,753 clients were screened for blood pressure during the campaign and
217 out of 1,050 males (24%) and 496 out of 1,703 (29%) females screened showed elevated blood pressure.
A total of 17 TB patients seen during the campaign were encouraged to adhere to treatment. A total of 3 TB clients were defaulting treatment and adherence to counseling was done and patients were linked to health facilities.
Setshego said that 10 years and above clients were screened for STI’s on the above-mentioned risk factors namely alcohol use, multiple concurrent partnerships and inconsistent condom use.
From their findings 1,186 clients indulge in alcohol and 443 have more than one sexual partner.
“Clients say that they use condoms consistently of which 1,792 clients say they use condoms inconsistently,” she said.
Setshego said that even though 16,088 male and 2,942 female condoms were distributed it is evident that people do not use condoms consistently.
She criticised men who she said do not want to change.
“I will give you an example during a Kgotla meeting in Serule, a woman brought back a package of female condom because she was ordered to do so by her partner,” she said.
She urged people to take preventative measures towards fighting STI/TB/HIV.