Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Eradication of HIV/AIDS dependent on stakeholder partnerships

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Government says Zambia will only achieve its target of eliminating HIV/ AIDS by 2030 if health service providers combine their efforts with other stakeholders

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Administration Kennedy Malama said medical practitioners need to work with schools, traditional leaders and other stakeholders in the implementation of programmes aimed at reducing the HIV scourge which has claimed many lives.

ZANIS reports that Dr Malama said this when he inspected the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) programme at Mzeye zonal health centre in Chipata district in Eastern Province.

Dr Malama is in the province to check on health services and infrastructure development in Eastern Province.

Dr Malama observed that Mzeye health facility has made progress in the provision of the VMMC programme as it attained its target of 230 by conducting 260 surgeries this year.

He noted that Mzeye zonal health centre has been working with the Ministry of Education in conducting awareness programmes in schools which he said has seen pupils in the area seek circumcision.

The Permanent Secretary said he was thrilled that his mission of ascertaining the implementation of VMMC at grass root level had revealed that the programme has been successful at the health facility.

Dr Malama also noted that Mzeye has made been recording a reduction in the transmission of HIV.

He noted that people in the area are responding positively to Government’s call for universal counselling, testing and treatment for HIV.

Dr Malama stressed the need to ensure that the HIV infection rate in the area remains low and seek ways in which the health facility can move towards the elimination of the virus among the locals.

And Mzeye Medical Officer in-charge Geoffrey Njovu disclosed that 2,400 people are on AntiRetroviral Therapy (ART) at the health facility.

Mr Njovu said 95 percent of the patients on ART adhere to medication and that the health facility has improved its service provision to patients due to adequate delivery of drugs and medicine and improved staffing levels.

And Dr Malama has stressed the need to strengthen efforts to improve maternal health in the region.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Eastern Province Acting Permanent Secretary Smith Mangalilo, Dr Malama urged health workers to maintain a positive attitude towards patients in the delivery of health care services.

Dr Malama said health workers ought to be cautious because they deal with people who may be at their weakest point due to illnesses.

He says Eastern Province holds potential in health tourism due to the vast border it shares with three countries thereby attracting more people to seek medical services in the province.

Dr Malama said that the Ministry of health can He noted that the opportunity can be used to further enhance healthcare systems and raise revenue for the country.

And Eastern Province Acting Permanent Secretary Smith Mangalilo commended the Ministry of health in the region for ensuring that quality health care services are provided to the people.

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