President Michael Sata and First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba during a meeting with representatives from the UNAIDS, Churches Health Association of Zambia [CHAZ] and the National AIDS Council [NAC] at State House on July 12,2013-Picture by THOMAS NSAMA

President Michael Sata has said that the education and increased funding to the health sector are key to reducing the number of new HIV infections in the country.

President Sata said this during a meeting with representatives from the UNAIDS, Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) and the National AIDS Council (NAC) among others.

First Lady Christine Kaseba was also part of the closed door meeting, in her capacity as vice-chairperson of the Organisation of African First Ladies (OAFLA).

Mr Sata convened the meeting to review the 2013 Progress Report on the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive.

During the meeting, Mr Sata said Zambia achieved a 51 per cent reduction in the number of new HIV infections among children between the years 2009 – 2012.

Meanwhile, Mr Sata said although Zambia was doing well on the economic front and in the fight against HIV and AIDS a lot more could be achieved once poverty and unemployment were reduced.

President Sata said this in a statement released by State House Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah in Lusaka today.

Mr Sata, who applauded the efforts being made by various stakeholders said dissemination of information and infrastructure development were critical in the fight against HIV and AIDS especially in rural areas.

According to the report, Zambia would continue to make progress towards eliminating new HIV infections among children if it maintains its current high coverage level of antiretroviral medicines for pregnant women living with HIV, while also addressing HIV transmission through breastfeeding.

Zambia had committed to roll out lifelong antiretroviral therapy for pregnant women living with HIV, which will accelerate the country’s progress towards the goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

The representatives, who attended the meeting at State House today morning included, NAC board chairperson Joshua Banda, CHAZ executive director Karen Sichinga, NAC director general Clement Chella, Ministry of Health permanent secretary Peter Mwaba, Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health permanent secretary Professor Elywin Chomba and a representative from the UNAIDS country office.

36 COMMENTS

Ola July 12, 2013 At 6:54 pm

This is the way to go Mr President; I think the country has done so well in the last 10 years to reduce HIV/AIDS through various campaigns but there is still need to ovecome stigmatising people living with the virus.
- Pobo July 12, 2013 At 8:08 pm
  
  He is one of the modes of transfer of HIV and Aids.
  How many concubines has SATA bonked and sired children??????
- Mushota July 12, 2013 At 8:49 pm
  
  Great thinking by the president again
  
  Thanks
  
  Jo
Nubian Princess July 12, 2013 At 6:55 pm

Funding will not stop HIV, people’s se.xua.l behavior’s and awareness will curb HIV.

STOP
– Ubuchende
-Buchilalelale
– Live Action

START
Test with your partner
Use condoms
Love yourself
- ndobo July 12, 2013 At 7:18 pm
  
  love is a complex thing.. believe me when you are in love,,i mean true love (not plastic love from a text book) common sense does not apply….
  On ubuchende… unless you dont know that sex is stress reliefing active,, thats why stressed people with nothing constructive to do, drink too much and sex alot… generally!!!
Jay Jay July 12, 2013 At 7:11 pm

Why should a meeting on health be closed door? Why let his immature PA George Chellah issue a statement later if he is around himself…doesn’t all this raise suspicion?
- Chipembele July 12, 2013 At 8:59 pm
  
  Jay Jay, that’s what Chellah is paid for!
planzo July 12, 2013 At 7:17 pm

U pipo do c or get a clip showing the president speaking?because every news in the electronic media is contained in a press released by George chella.for some time now I have never heard news like.he was speaking when he addressed real people himself.
Daudi July 12, 2013 At 7:33 pm

Buhata. There was no such meeting. The lies will soon catch up with you. What is this governance through dubious press statements!
notorious July 12, 2013 At 7:33 pm

epulogulamu ba presido wesu
imbwa CJ July 12, 2013 At 7:37 pm

SATA LOOKS VERY PUFFY awe mwandi balwele ba SATA
- webman July 13, 2013 At 5:26 am
  
  Jackets falling,,,,,,, enhe! Remember talking about late Mazoka’s trousers falling? That’s God for you,,,,, giving you chance to reflect on your past sins!
Pobo July 12, 2013 At 8:09 pm

Bakateka does not look healthy weeeee.

No wonder ka Closed Door Meeting when SATA likes the limelight.
sunkutu kadansa Hichilema July 12, 2013 At 8:12 pm

What say the Zambian WatchDog now? Lairs of extra ordinary proportion…They deserve the LAIRS Award of the decade.
- cindy July 12, 2013 At 8:27 pm
  
  Kakambindwe bwana, how someone conveys the massage determines how that massage will be recieved, as for ba sata’s health, only an abnormal person would expect him to be perfectly healthy at that age, to make matters worse he has the worst job in this world, very unhealthy job, how do you expect him to be otherwise? some issues people make noise about makes me wonderhow normal they themselves are!
Soap Opera July 12, 2013 At 9:24 pm

Now THIS is positive.
mbiji July 12, 2013 At 9:34 pm

Oh the President is alive! Chawama. For a while I figured Zambia was on auto pilot
Kay July 12, 2013 At 10:27 pm

When he is bed ridden he comes up with good statements, may be this is the way to go for progress. Doctors are you listening because the coward generals have disappointed us.
THE SAINT July 12, 2013 At 10:34 pm

This could be an old photo. Next time you take a photo Nsama, put the days newspaper on the table, like kidnappers do…. kekekekeke
THE SAINT July 12, 2013 At 10:35 pm

So all the people who are infected with HIV are illiterate and poor?
THE SAINT July 12, 2013 At 10:40 pm

During the meeting, Mr Sata said Zambia achieved a 51 per cent reduction in the number of new HIV infections among children between the years 2009 – 2012.
Well done MMD.
- Kay July 13, 2013 At 1:22 am
  
  and does he seriously consider that an achievement?
- Chiduku On A Horse - former High Speed Black Mama July 14, 2013 At 5:56 am
  
  The Saint, you’re in top form today!
  
  “We’ll done MMD” cracked me up
Osmore July 12, 2013 At 10:59 pm

Ubukopo no bushilu.When mmd did positive works it did so for that is wat we mandeted it 2 do. Tho not even 2 our fu expectations.Pf will do so becoz we want dem 2 do so.So credit 2 de general zedians not rotten mmd.@Jay,jay u are sick & a bitter fu
- ££ July 12, 2013 At 11:57 pm
  
  Ubukopo is inventing words that do not exist because you are a lazy bone.
william phiri July 13, 2013 At 12:41 am

iyee tu ma flowers kwati te state house
Chali July 13, 2013 At 1:46 am

President Sata said this in a statement released by State House Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah in Lusaka today . So sata was not speaking but Chelsy did. Has he stopped talking?
- Jay Jay July 13, 2013 At 8:37 am
  
  Spot on!!
KABIMBA July 13, 2013 At 4:42 am

I WAS IN THAT MEETING.

BOTH OF HIS KNEES SEEMED STRONG.

BA TATA IS GOING STRONG.

NO LIMP WHATSOEVER.

BA ZWD ARE YOU THERE?
Dada July 13, 2013 At 5:26 am

Can u change behvior al the time disagreing wht Sata says!Wht profit do u get?Nothng,yestday heard ci Canisius Banda apealing to pipo tht ths is time fr yung pipo to rule!Can u imagine an educated speakng like tht?He went furthr sayng not only northernrs & easternrs shud b presidents!Nothr mediocre empty yurping!In politcs u apeal to voters thru alternate decisions not staremts empty in policy making!Why oposition u ve no ofer fr Zambia now.Ask Lusambo’s views now.Age & regional politcs wil nevr take Hakahi votela Heka to state hse!Ci Canisius advise yr boss tht regioal economist , moreover he has no region now bt a briefcase consultant!
- Chiduku On A Horse - former High Speed Black Mama July 14, 2013 At 5:44 am
  
  After a while, people accept you as the resident I’d.iot and don’t bother to respond to your garbage.
  
  You Dada, are there.
- Chiduku On A Horse - former High Speed Black Mama July 14, 2013 At 5:47 am
  
  Just sit quietly in the corner. When we locate the plastic cups we’ll provide munkoyo and your grandma to sing you to sleep.
- dudelove July 14, 2013 At 11:01 am
  
  @ Chiduku, I don’t know who you are or where you come from, but you get an A++ on my scorecard with regards wit and sharp comebacks! hahaha!
- Chiduku On A Horse - former High Speed Black Mama July 14, 2013 At 12:42 pm
  
  @Dudelove
  
  Thank you Dudelove! You’ve made a whole lot of difference to my day by saying that.
  
  I don’t get the emails that tell you that someone’s responded to a comment (I dont know why. *wink, wink*) so I’m glad I saw it.
  
  Love,
  Chiduku
HISTORIAN July 13, 2013 At 8:29 am

MR CANISIUS ARE YOU APPEALING TO HH’S YOUTH’S AT THE

EXPENSE OF NORTHERN AND EASTERN YOUTHS TO RULE ZAMBIA?

WHICH YOUTHS IN AFRICA ARE A MANAGING THE AFFAIRS OF AFRICA?

ARE YU REFERRING TO YOUTHFUL SONS OF DECEASED PRESIDENTS AND KINGS?

KABILA’S SON? KING MSWATI’S SON? OMAR BONGOS’ SON? ETC
LORD VOLDEMORT (THE DARK LORD) July 13, 2013 At 8:30 am

The question is what are you doing to tackle the lack of education? Building mud-plastered classrooms? Wrong people wrong government!