Government says there is need for the country to strategically narrow the gap between knowledge and behavior change to uplift Zambia out of its status as one of the countries with the highest HIV burdens in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ministry of Health Director for Public Health Andrew Silumesi said the country should strive to deal with the discrepancy between high knowledge of the benefits of a condom as a barrier to HIV infection and low practices of the desired behavior of the correctly and consistently use of the commodity.
Dr. Silumesi noted that while the adult HIV prevalence in Zambia has declined failing by 19% from 2003 to the current level of 11.2%, the HIV prevalence rate is the seventh highest rate globally.
Dr. Silumesi said the high statistics are worrying for Zambia which has approximately 1.2 million people living with HIV.
He stated that with determination, right approaches and evidence based interventions, Zambians can collectively halt new infections and effectively manage existing HIV and AIDS cases using the condom as one of the front line HIV prevention methods in combination with treatment as prevention.
Dr. Silumesi was speaking at the commemoration of the 2018 International Condom Day held in Lusaka yesterday dubbed, “condoms always in fashion”.
And National AIDS Council Director General Fortune Chibamba said the commemoration of this day is meant to encourage safer sex through the use of condoms and abstinence for those who can manage.
Mr. Chibamba noted that despite Zambia being a Christian nation, encouraging the use of condoms is necessary because people are not faithful to their partners neither do they abstain hence, the need for them to use the condom.
He said the day fall on the eve of Valentine’s Day so as to protect those that misunderstand valentines and end up engaging in casual sex in the name of showing love to their partners.
He called on people especially youths to use the condom if they cannot afford to abstain or be faithful to one partner who is faithful to them.
Meanwhile, AIDS Healthcare Foundation Country Manager Mabvuto Kango noted that HIV/AIDS slows down Zambia’s economic development by between 0.56-1.47% every year which translates in about $304 million United States Dollars every year.
Dr. Kango noted that until the country closes the gap of new infections, the efforts shall not yield the desired results.
So all these are using condoms outside marriage while calling themselves as Christians or Christians for Lungu
@ mushota did you know that condoms prevents pregnancies. Stop using them if you want a baby soon.
This is not the best article for the under5s. Please stay away. Jj spaka and the other kids on the media this is for mature people only.
It is abomination to talk about that HH.
Those things should be left discussed behind closed doors with curtains closed.
I will keep quiet
Thanks
Bb2014,2016
Ooops its long time since we talked. Will try and call before bed time. How was your V celebration.
Condoms and sex dolls this is the way to go.
A Christian Nation commemorating a condom day:: Devil at work in the last days: Not every one who says Lord, Lord shall enter the Kingdom of God but only those who do what He says: Read Matthew 7 v 20 – 24 My brothers I am seeing on those picture, it is your time to turn to God and starting preaching the word of God to every one in Government Offices, Public Offices, Mines and Markets that God is about to judge the world. This is the time for Christians to rise and be counted. God save Zambia::
You are a misguided Christian. Condoms save lives and Christianity should support saving lives. Even Jesus used to health on the sabbath even though the law had forbidden that. What matters is that you are helping mankind in your actions, that is Christianity. Condoms are for helping mankind in this country where we have 46,000 new HIV infections every year.
Just what is wrong with some Zambians? A condom is also used even by married Christian couples for family planning purposes. What is wrong with that? Come on, let’s choose what to condemn and what not to condemn
and this was done in readiness for valentines
Ladies and gentlemen the choice is yours between having safe intercourse or risky encounters. How many virgins are in churches nowadays? Zambia Daily Mail, Wednesday, February 14, 28 page 3 reports ” 500 pupils pregnant in Chipata”. I am sure these pregnancies could have been avoided had these young people abstained or practiced safer- s-e-x.
Condoms have saved many lives including mine since their introduction into our country. They were a wonder during my hell days.
Bane, are you sure condom saves lives? Who has ever proved this? What I know is that if you use condoms for casual sex you will surely die from the habit. You won’t even know how you got the dreaded HIV. I am surprised that people can even exalt condoms. A lot of people have died taking this ‘sweet’.
Rev Sumaili hasnt heard of this. She will ban this day
This can only take place in Zambia because three quarters of the population is HIV positive ,let alone lungu and all his P-F Fools.
This can only take place in Zambia because three quarters of the population is H-I-V positive ,let alone l-ungu and all his P-F F-o-ols.
We are just a people without values and as someone said, a people without values are like a tree without roots (Dead wood!). Why is it that countries with the lowest condom usage rate have lower HIV rates and those with the highest usage rate, higher HIV rates? Users usually want to experience the real thing – skin to skin especially teenagers who easily get bored with the condom. By distributing condoms in schools for practicals, most young children have been aroused sexually and want to practice since it’s now part of the curriculum. No one jumps into the swimming pool with a rain coat on! No one eats a sweet with it wrap on! We had no condoms when we were growing up! How did we survive? We never knew about sex until we finished tertiary education! Our parents, uncles and aunties did a…
Our parents, uncles and aunties did a great job by teaching us morals – no sex before and outside marriage! That is not happening today. What we have done is to replace morals with a condom! What a shame! Anyway, sex dolls have come and will soon replace the condom and the woman… Kikikiki What an adulterous generation we have become!