Talent Gore
SEXUALLY Transmitted Infections (STIs) have been on the increase with the majority of infections not being symptomatic causing a major risk of spreading the disease without knowing, a Ministry of Health leading official said.
The majority of cases are being recorded in women.
Speaking during a media and science cafe organised by the Health Communicators Forum, National Coordinator, STI Prevention and Condom Distribution in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Anna Machiya, said the number of STIs recorded annually has been on the increase since 2018.
“The number of officially recorded cases for STIs in Zimbabwe is just a tip of the Iceberg and more numbers are recorded in females as opposed to males,” she said.
“However, what is going unrecorded is what we don’t know, and these are the asymptomatic STIs and they constitute the majority of STIs in Zimbabwe.”
Machiya said the reasons behind the increase in STI trends include inconsistent condom use and a number of other reasons.
“Stock out of STI medicines, consumption of drugs and alcohol then hinder people’s judgment and decisions, the issue of user fees, the symptomatic nature of STIs where infected individuals continue to spread the STIs unknowingly.”
Machaya said vaginal discharges constituted the majority of STIs recorded in Zimbabwe with data showing that an estimated 95 000 cases were recorded last year.
“Urethra discharges also constitute about 80 000 of STIs recorded in 2023 while other forms of STIs make up about 55 000 cases.
“Genital ulcers have also been on an upward trend with estimated 40 000 cases recorded in 2023 alone.”
She added in terms of Vaginal Discharge, there were quite high rates, from 2013, but the trend seemed to observe some decline around 2018 and, from 2020, the Ministry started seeing some increases.
“There was a dip in 2021 but now there is an increase,” she said.
“For men, who present with urethral discharge, the majority of them, over 70 percent, will be having Gonorrhoea.”
Zimbabwe’s approach to STIs treatment is based on syndrome and the Ministry of Health uses the syndromic approach.
“We have very few point of care tests and to be able to know the specific type of that particular STI,” Machiya said.
“The main aims of STIs prevention and control are to prevent the development of diseases, complications and sequelae that follows when STIs are not treated.
“We also want to interrupt the transmission of STIs using treatment.”
The Ministry of Health also prioritises prevention education and information where they raise awareness and inform the public that STIs are avoidable, treatable and curable and early treatment is essential.
They also inform the public regarding information about the asymptomatic nature of infection in some cases and describe recognisable signs and symptoms as well as promote PEP and Presumptive STI treatment.