Government has pledged to increase its support to HIV and AIDS prevention campaigns within its available resources.
Meanwhile, government has also promised to continue ensuring that an enabling environment is created for carrying out targeted interventions.
Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya stated that government, just like other stakeholders has a responsibility of contributing to the reduction of infectious diseases in the country.
Speaking when he officiated at the World AIDS Day commemoration at Lusaka Showgrounds yesterday. Dr. Chilufya said despite the country’s progress in HIV prevention, there is need to scale up efforts so as to remain in line with the global commitments of ending AIDS as an epidemic by 2030.
Dr. Chilufya said the country’s membership to the global community requires every citizen’s response to HIV and AIDS resonate with global commitments to which Zambia is a signatory to and a key mover.
He further called on traditional, church and other community leaders to use the resources at their disposal in their various settings to ensure that HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns are publicized in their communities.
Dr. Chilufya also commended all stakeholders from the government, private sector, cooperation partners and civil society from their support towards the HIV and AIDS response.
And speaking earlier at the same event, United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) Country Director Tsehaiu Medhin commended government for demonstrating its global solidarity and shared responsibility in the fight against HIV,TB and, malaria through its five million dollars pledge to the Global Fund.
Dr. Medhin said the gesture is recognized and appreciated but the attitude should carry on in establishing a comprehensive and domestic resource mobilization to sustain the gains made so far.
“The United Nations system IS committed to maintain a close relation with the government and the people of Zambia through the Partnership Framework signed in 2015 and providing support in mainstreaming the Sustainable Goals and various global and regional commitments,” she said.
She further called on other government officials, civil societies, cooperating partners and the private sector to focus the targets on locations and populations affected by the epidemic so as to attain a higher impact towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
2016 World AIDS Day was commemorated under the theme “Hands Up for HIV Prevention”.
ARVs have done wonders to this dreadful disease. It is not the AIDS of so many years ago where you could find someone in a ‘skeleton’ bed-ridden. I think even the discrimination and stigma has greatly reduced.
As long as most mothers in Zambia have turned to prostitution to feed their families HIV and AIDS will not go away. I know groups of single mothers living in compounds who’s only way to survive is by servicing up to 20 men a day. Now tell me how you can stop the spreading of the poor mans disease?
The current minister of health, to me, appears to be doing so well. I have been attracted by the attention he gives to little details and his ability to move away from ” politics as usual ” type of administration. He is not only practical but firm to his decisions. For the many that may not know, he has successfully employed almost all the nurses that were in streets. if you don’t find nurses at your clinic, just blame yourself, your teachers and indeed your children for not producing enough nurses. its no longer government for now. HE ECL got one perfect Minister in Chilufya. Am not sure about others yet but am convinced there is one cabinet minister that will serve and save our society. Nothing to do with PF/UPND plse!