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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
Gokwe North District administrator Mr Isaac Mutambara has said more than 285 000 people in his area are in need of food aid.

Speaking during a National Aids Council (NAC) media tour in Midlands recently, he said crops in the area were a complete write off.

Mr Mutambara said Government had started distributing maize to the affected people, although there was high demand.

“Our food situation is dire,” he said.

“Approximately, 95 percent of the people in this area are food insecure. We have a population of about 301 000 in this district and this past season our crop was a 100 percent write off.

“Government distributed food to 45 000 people while a NGO, World Vision, assisted 75 000 families.”

Gokwe North District Aids coordinator Mr Isaki Chiwara said the food shortages might have adverse effects of people living with HIV in the area.

He said food insecurity can also make youths and adolescents susceptible to HIV new infections in the area more vulnerable.

“Food shortage in the area affects everyone, including the people living with HIV,” said Mr Chiwara. “It also means that most people become vulnerable in that they are going to be moving around looking for food or money to buy food.

“The situation has been made dire by the decrease in cotton farming in the area. Cotton didn’t do well in this area this past season.”

Mr Chiwara said Gokwe North had one of the least HIV prevalence and incidence rates.

“We have an HIV prevalence rate of two percent in Gokwe North,” he said. “We also have recorded 0.26 percent new infections. This is mainly due to the fact that people in these areas have a strong and sound cultural background. They respect their norms and values.”

Mr Chiwara said the area had few health facilities which was a cause for concern.

“There are only 22 clinics servicing a population of more than 300 000,” he said. “We also have mining activities in the area. Artisanal miners usually do not have a health seeking behaviour. Their risk perception is very low.

“They are mobile and therefore they have become a key population. There are, however, a number of intervention strategies tailor made for this particular group.”