Youths most at risk to contract HIV/AIDS-Mtonga

Government says it is committed to transforming the country into a healthy and productive nation through various interventions without leaving anyone behind.

North-Western Provincial AIDS Task Force vice chairperson, Dickson Mtonga says government has prioritized health education and school health promotions among the key programmes to address challenges faced by adolescents and young people both in school and out of school.

Mr Mtonga said according to the 2013-2014 Zambia demographic health survey, adolescents between 15 to 19 years continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV.

He said this in Solwezi yesterday when officiating at the provincial social behavior change communications (SBCC) condom promotion meeting for the adolescent organised by the National HIV/AIDS Council and UNICEF which was attended by various stakeholders including youths.

Mr Mtonga, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders to embrace a multi-sectoral approach to scale up programmes dealing with social behavior change communications targeting the young people.

He urged stakeholders to undertake comprehensive sexuality education and behavior change interventions with a focus on key populations which the 2017-2021 National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework defines as among the most at risk that includes the young, women and men.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Training in the Ministry of Health Professor Elywn Chomba says the construction of health specialist training hubs in all provinces will enhance the provision of health care services in the country.

Professor Chomba says government remains resolute to ensuring that it deploys trained health personnel to various health facilities.

She observed that a trained health profession is cardinal for the acceleration of health care provision.

ZANIS reports that Professor Chomba said this when she paid a courtesy call on Northern Province Acting Permanent Secretary Sineva Kambenja.

She also called on the provincial office to support the construction of the training hubs in order to enhance skills among health personnel.

And Zambia Colleges of Medicine and Surgery. Head of Education and Examinations Professor Bellington Vwalika has maintained that once completed, the hubs will help strengthen capacity among health facilities in the country.

Professor Vwalika said the health hubs will also provide specialist training for health workers citing that there is a shortage of personnel in healthy facilities.

Meanwhile, Provincial Acting Permanent Secretary Sineva Kambenja said the introduction of health specialist training hubs will help bridge the gap that is in the health profession.

Mr. Kambenja also added that health hubs will intensify the delivery and provision of quality health care services.