HIV Silently Spreading in Mozambique: UNICEF Official

The head of the UN's children fund has raised concerns over the spread of HIV in Mozambique, saying it was partly fueled by immigrants from Zimbabwe who were selling their bodies to make ends meet.

Mozambique has, sadly, remained oblivious to the recent spurt in HIV infections within its boundaries. Speaking on the issue, the head of the UN's children fund has attributed it to the female immigrants from neighboring Zimbabwe who now earn their livelihood as sex workers in the picturesque African country.

UNICEF executive director Ann Veneman told reporters at the end of a three-day official visit on Saturday that her organization "was concerned by high levels of HIV infection in the country."

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"We are working with the ministry of the interior in dealing with uncontrolled immigration of Zimbabwean women who are engaged in sexual activities in central Mozambique."

She did not give details of the organization’s work with the government.

Large numbers of women are believed to have fled poverty-stricken Zimbabwe, laboring under the world's highest inflation rate and major food shortages, to work as prostitutes in neighboring Mozambique.

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According to government figures, Mozambique's HIV prevalence rate among the 16-to-49 age group is estimated at more than 16 percent. However some aid groups say the figure is higher.

Source-AFP
TAN/L

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