The World Health Organisation and the UNAIDS have jointly issued statement to the media this morning saying Zambia’s HIV testing services must be in line with the global recommendations of human rights based approaches.
The two organisations stated that they will continue to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to provide technical support and guidance in the review and dissemination of HIV testing services protocols and standard operating procedures.
The two UN agencies stressed that Zambia has adapted the WHO Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services (HTS) in line with the key principles of Consent, Confidentiality, Counselling, Correct Test Results and connection to HIV prevention, treatment and care (the 5Cs principles).
They said Zambia has been implementing Provider Initiated Testing and Counselling (PITC) since 2008 adding that they welcome the government’s call to reinforce the implementation of universal routine HIV testing in line with the above 5C principles.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) commend the Government of Zambia for its commitment to ensuring that people in Zambia know their HIV status, have universal access to Antiretroviral therapy and are virally suppressed in line with the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets by 2020; and achieve the overall goal to ending AIDS by 2030 as a public health threat,” they stated.
They added, “Of the estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV in Zambia, only 67% know their status. There are therefore, approximately 400,000 people who do not know that they are living with HIV. The situation calls for intensive, innovative and effective HIV testing strategies that are in line with WHO and UNAIDS global guidance.”
“Zambia has adapted the WHO Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services (HTS) in line with the key principles of Consent, Confidentiality, Counselling, Correct Test Results and connection to HIV prevention, treatment and care (the 5Cs principles). Zambia has been implementing Provider Initiated Testing and Counselling (PITC) since 2008. WHO and UNAIDS welcome the government’s call to reinforce the implementation of universal routine HIV testing in line with the above 5C principles.”
“In this regard, WHO and UNAIDS will continue to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to provide technical support and guidance in the review and dissemination of HIV testing services protocols and standard operating procedures to ensure that they are in line with the global recommendations of human rights based approaches. WHO and UNAIDS call upon all Zambians to access HIV Testing Services, know their HIV status; and those tested positive start and adhere to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in order to achieve sustained viral suppression.”
The Full statement
Joint statement on knowing your HIV status
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) commend the Government of Zambia for its commitment to
ensuring that people in Zambia know their HIV status, have universal access to
Antiretroviral therapy and are virally supressed in line with the UNAIDS 90-90-90
targets by 2020; and achieve the overall goal to ending AIDS by 2030 as a public
health threat.
Of the estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV in Zambia, only 67% know their
status. There are therefore, approximately 400,000 people who do not know that
they are living with HIV. The situation calls for intensive, innovative and effective HIV
testing strategies that are in line with WHO and UNAIDS global guidance.
Zambia has adapted the WHO Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services
(HTS) in line with the key principles of Consent, Confidentiality, Counselling,
Correct Test Results and connection to HIV prevention, treatment and care
(the 5Cs principles).
Zambia has been implementing Provider Initiated Testing and Counselling (PITC)
since 2008. WHO and UNAIDS welcome the government’s call to reinforce the
implementation of universal routine HIV testing in line with the above 5C principles.
In this regard, WHO and UNAIDS will continue to collaborate with the government
and other stakeholders to provide technical support and guidance in the review and
dissemination of HIV testing services protocols and standard operating procedures
to ensure that they are in line with the global recommendations of human rights-
based approaches.
WHO and UNAIDS call upon all Zambians to access HIV Testing Services, know
their HIV status; and those tested positive start and adhere to Antiretroviral Therapy
(ART) in order to achieve sustained viral suppression.
Key word here is CONSENT.. another intervention by the international community advising the ALPHA and OMEGA
Only GOD is omnipotent. We were given 2 eyes to see ,2 ears to listen and ONE mouth to speak. GOD knew what his priorities were
Well said, But knowing EL, He will not listen until you bring back the commonwealth secretary again, He the kim jong un of Africa.
Reply
“Consent” is the key word. Lungu nauitaya
LUNGU is the DULLEST lawyer Zambia has ever witnessed.
How can a lawyer be in the fore-front of abusing peoples rights?
No wonder he stole a Widows benefits, bribed his way to PF presidency, rigged his way to a second term & is bullying his way to a 3rd term.
Implied consent is consent which is not expressly granted by a person, but rather implicitly granted by a person’s ACTIONS. Just like in elections, it’s not mandatory to vote but it is mandatory to have your thumb inked after voting. This means that, by VOLUNTARILY going to the clinic you have consented to be tested.
I was drinking with Jonathan last night, he told me he uses nolle proceque along side city market state of emergency now.. .. In this case he says he wants zambians to take compulsory consent HIV test, I still don’t know what he was talking about,,, my friend Jonathan has a problem I think he needs to recognize and reconcile with bana dalisto, mumbi Phiri is confusing him,
@Hour Glass: by implication, PF is driving people away from clinics. This means there will be more reliance on witch doctors and illegal clinics. Why should Lungu want to do this? How does it benefit him to bruise the noses of Zambians in such a wholesale way?
You dont knand you go beating about the bushow how to write a news story. WHO wants the Zambian government to remember Human rights
The majority of the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise get it but there’s a small elitist group of disgruntled cretins that doesn’t.
Consent can easily be tied to access of certain privileges, for instance in certain states in the United States their Human and Health Services required that a recipient of particular services goes through mandatory testing.
At the Federal level, one ever becomes a US Citizen once one fails an HIV test with or without consent. But you have a bunch of yahoos here protesting an easily identifiable caveat that can help reduce the obvious.
For obvious reasons … maybe these yahoos are themselves carriers!!! So, I encourage GRZ to impose those, for instance, certain states in the US don’t issue a marriage license without an HIV test result being…
You really dont know how to write a news story. WHO wants the Zambian government to remember its adherence to Human rights and you go beating about the bush!
Continued…
HIV test results being negative … one way GRZ can easily achieve this is by declaring certain services as public safety that are public health.
For instance, driving is a public safety issue it is not a right but a privilege to drive on a public road and that’s why everyone driving on public roads has to be licensed for public safety reasons.
So, to access that privilege anyone who turns 16 needs to apply for a driving permit and has to consent to an HIV test. Those renewing their licenses now have to consent to an HIV test as a public safety issue.
Or to mimic similarities to US Immigration where no foreign born individuals can be citizens only after passing the HIV test, tie our program to issuing NRCs, for instance.
Viola … there you have it!!! And…
Continued …
Viola … there, you have it!!! And those who are not happy get either stop driving or don’t get their NRC or get the hell out of my country, period!!!
In the military mandatory testing is carried out, in some cases you may even be tested more than once a year! Why should only soldiers and airmen go through this? Let these other govt depts like the cops, teachers, healthworkers, extension workers etc let these guys also go through the same testing the guys in the military are going through!
Mandatory testing is key to planning! Well done Mr President Sir, we need all Zambians to know their status!
ARVs are very expensive. If the rate of HIV infection is not controlled by any means including testing all those who frequent clinics with suspicious illnesses, then most of our budget will enrich drug companies and they know that with the compulsory approach, HIV can be defeated. Why do people fear being tested when they don’t fear undressing and screwing prostitutes even without protection. ALL THOSE WITH SUSPICIOUS VISITS TO CLINICS MUST BE TESTED AND TOLD TO STOP INFECTING OTHER. Why are you scared? Do you have AIDS or you intend to infect others
It is not a human right to know your HIV status. It is your human right to refuse to be treated.
This issue has nothing to do with the mandatory testing for Immigration, Life insurance or job application. HIV tests have ALWAYS been done whenever doctors suspect that the person may be infected and that has caused their symptoms. The point is that CONSENT must be obtained from the patient in order to test them. The difference was that they could still be treated for malaria or TB even if they refused to undergo an HIV test. Will the doctors still go on to do this now if the patient refuses? The other point was that if one is HIV positive, they would not be treated until they were symptomatic or their viral load was high or CD4 count lower than a certain threshold. There is no contention…
@Mumba—This is misinformation. No one is tested for any type of disease in order to obtain US citizenship. I have never heard of that for all these years I have lived in this nation. Ask immigration attorneys/lawyers for accurate information. Medical exam applies only to applicants of green cards. Any applicant is tested for tuberculosis via X-ray so that they are treated. Immigration doctors conduct only a physical exam that include looking at your eyes, ears, nose and throat, extremities, heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, and skin. In addition, they ask for records of vaccinations such as diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, etc. depending on age. Even the, there is HIV test.
@!Mumba–I meant there is no HIV test.
@Lipkwa … yaba!!! Kwena guys ne nsoni tamwakata bane. No one gets to be a US Citizen without first getting a Green Card. At the Green Card level you’re tested for HIV and at the naturalization stage you are tested again.
You just told the world you are either illegally in the US or you have never applied for citizenship. If you are illegal, make sure you acquire legal status right now because under Trump, ICE has the power to track your IP and they can start processing you for deportation.
Mwailetelela bawishi … uku sabaila kubi. No need to consult an immigration attorney I am living proof.
Good day … you are fore-warned, you just exposed yourself to ICE, put your house in order badala!!!
@Mumba—Now I know that you do no tell the truth. I was not tested for HIV when I had applied for my green card (permanent resident). Moreover, none of the members of my family underwent what you claim. For your information, I was sponsored by my employers. After five years as permanent residents, we applied for citizenship which we were granted after going through biometrics, and naturalization tests. We took the oath and the ceremony. Please, be truthful.
@Mumba—There is nowhere in my last comments did I mention that a person can become a naturalized US citizen before permanent residency. Medical exams take place only at Green card level. Moreover, as I had indicated in my previous comments, the exams do not include HIV test. Naturalization applicants are not required to undergo such tests. Naturalization applicants are only required to take a test on English and Civics (U.S. history and government). I do not even know why some of us were subjected to such a type of a test whereby you only answer 6 rudimentary questions and the thing is over.
@Lipkwa … the truth shall set you free. By unequivocally saying “you know I don’t tell the truth” on a public forum you already lied!
Here is the truth, part of your medical exam for a Green Card involves an HIV test, period. You probably didn’t read your documents to the fullest extent possible. Mwali excited when your Green Card application process started.
So, if a Green Card application comes before your naturalization and at first point you can’t proceed through to naturalization without meeting the first requirements, which in this case includes HIV testing, then the secondary part is a mute point … just arguments sake.
But in my case, both tests were done both at the Green Card level and the naturalization level before the English and US History tests. Now, back…
Continued … Now, back to the facts!
Do you need to have a Green Card before you get naturalized? The answer is an equivocal “YES!!!!” Does HIV testing get included in your medical exam for the Green Card application? The answer is an equivocal “YES!!!”
Therefore, if you can’t get naturalized without a Green Card and you can’t get a Green Card without a medical test which among other things includes an HIV test, then the truth is that one can never be naturalized as a US Citizen without passing an HIV test even if the said test is at the Green Card phase!!!!
Viola … there, you have it!!! So, let the world judge who is telling the truth here, Lipkwa or B R Mumba, Sr. By the way avoid abstract statements that start like “I know”. You immediately lose credibility,…
Continued …
Viola … there, you have it!!! So, let the world judge who is telling the truth here, Lipkwa or B R Mumba, Sr. By the way, avoid abstract statements that start like “I know”. You immediately lose credibility in a public forum; there’s only one above that knows everything.
The rest of us know, but in part … God speed to you, my fellow Zambian American!!!
@Lipkwa … lastly, to qualify your statement of “knowledge of my lies”, please list them all here so that we can all see them.
It may help me too so that I can stop telling “lies” to the world … thanks a trillion in advance.
I am in possession of the copies of the tests; there is no indication of your claim. To let you know, I couldn’t get excited over my application. You talk about my use of the first person pronoun as being a matter of credibility. Yet, you forgot that you labeled me “shameless” and “ukusabaila”; etc. My assertions are factual as they are by documentation
…backed by documentation. Medical examiner, that does include HIC test, applies to Green card applicants, not naturalized applicants. Green card precedes citizenship.
@Mumba—When did you undergo the medical exam? Below are the components of my Medical exam as shown on I-693
1. HIV/AIDS (This is what indicated on the form.) No longer required as it was discontinued.
2. Chest X-ray
I did not do the tuberculin skin test because I always react positively since my graduate school studies.
3. Other class A / class B conditions 4. Physical ? Mental disorder ….
5. Drug abuse / Drug addiction … 6. Vaccinations (Tdap, Varicella, MMR)
This is my documentation. You forced me to look for it.
@Lipkwa … I appreciate you bringing it to my attention. As you might have noticed, yes … I have lived in the US for a long time and actually got my papers prior to this change.
You made me go back to the rules under Section 212(a)(1)(A)(I) of the Immigrantion and Naturalization Act which bars foreign nationals admission to the United States with communicable diseases.
Little did I know that the CDC had removed HIV/AIDS from that list on Nov 2, 2009 and it went into effect on Jan 4, 2010. That was after my time and little did I know until actually today that that rule was changed.
So, you are right that it’s no longer required and I am wrong to have spoken without knowing the rule was changed. Now, was that a lie … No!! Why because, to the best of my knowledge, that’s what…
Continued …
Now, was that a lie … No!! Why because, to the best of my knowledge, that’s what happened to me and wasn’t aware that rule had since changed.
On the matter of referring to you as ukusabaila, that too was presumptuous on my part. Facts change what is considered truth at any given time based on changed rules and regulations.
On that count too of referring to ukusabaila, I apologize too … I hope you can see my side of things based on what the rules were at the time of my naturalization.
You won this argument based on current facts and I have lost based on basing my theoretical analysis on changed data … Thanks a trillion.
You’re the best, Pal … that’s what constructive criticism is all about, cheers!!!
Ciao ~ B R Mumba, Sr.
@Lipkwa … by the way, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Trump Administration changed that rule back to what it was before the Obama Administration changed it.
If what we have seen so far going by the Paris Climate Change, NAFTA roll backs, North Korea, Proposal on Iran Deal, etc is something to go by and this administration’s desire to limit even legal immigration is to go by as well.
Rules change based on who is in office as well as the mode of the nation. As rules change, facts change as well. I came here in the 90s and I have seen America change, some for the better and some for the worst. It’s still the best land God gave man … thanks a trillion.
Meant to say “mood” of the nation not “mode” of the nation … sorry about that
@Mumba, Jr—Thanks a lot! I appreciate your sincerity. Thus, I withdraw what I said. I should not have said. Please accept my apology. I have not won since our arguments were based on different information. Thar’s why I had asked you as to when you had submitted your application. We applied for the stuff at different times, and some items were removed from the requirements. Actually, I also came here in the 1990s as well after I could not bear the working conditions as a secondary school teacher in Ndola. It took me a bit long to decide whether to apply for permanent residency or not. Later I was forced to do so because of my kids who were in school in this nation. By the way, I am in academia.
Cheers!
@Lipkwa … apology accepted and it was great duking it out with you in a civil manner, very rare these days on these fora.
I am an Investment Banker, moved here after the demise of Meridian BIAO Bank. Used to be Senior Credit/Advances Officer for Southern Province based in Livingstone.
Grew up in Kitwe, moved here to study Accountancy then went to SMU for Grad School after doing International Banking and Finance earlier … cheers
Well said, But knowing EL, He will not listen until you bring back the commonwealth secretary again, He the kim jong un of Africa.
Lungu’s attitude of if you don’t like it then go to the courts, is why Zambia is now a dictatorship. He did the same with his ministers illegally continuing in office. He did the same with HH and the trumped up treason charges. Lungu knows how torturous and expensive the Zambian legal system is. He is relying on all those inefficiencies to victimise Zambians.
Thanks WHO and UNAIDS for guiding our ignoramuses who think they can force people to test. Consent is Cardinal in medical practice! Universal routine testing is the terminology not the mandatory one used in Police states like Zambia!
There was no need of reaching this stage of UNAIDS and WHO. Absolute mismanagement of the speech by ECL led to this. I am still shocked that Dr Chilufya the Minister of Health could allow such a fallacy to happen. I am even more surprised that Dr Kamoto Mbewe the new NAC Director General (even if he is not fit for the job) has remained mute to save his undeserved job. As for Amos Chanda I excuse him because he is a vuvuzela.
Now even if UNAIDS and WHO have spoken there is no withdrawal of the DECREE. Why?
@ulubunda, I agree with you. In addition to Dr Chilufya and Dr Kamoto, there is Prof. Nkandu Luo who once hosted the ICASA conference at Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia and all these could not advise the President to avoid this massive international embarrassement? Shame on them!
It is shameful that it has had to take these two organizations to bring our government to its senses. Consultation should have been done more thoroughly before making a policy pronouncement as the be-it all and end-it all.
There’s no evidence that the PF govt has come to its senses. Lungu is now telling anybody who does not like his edict that they should just go to Court. PF are drunk on power.
The strategy will enhance behavioral change for the better and the goal will be achieved. Though it is too late but better than never. Please do not dehumanise the initiative- It is a perfect solution.
Lazy Lungu will back down ..mark my words!!
People got it wrong for mandatory. It doesn’t necessarily that people will not be asked for consent. Mandatory on this context meant that everyone will be explained about the availability of those services. It’s happening in other countries and it’s a good initiative but only that in Zambia everything is politicizing even good things. This one the government has scored but as always oppositions want to talk negatively about it.
Sontago do you think or understand English. Compulsory requires no consent go to Zambia observer and see PF cadres forcing a grown adult to test for AIDS
@Sontago,
You, my friend, are contradicting yourself when you say “mandatory doesn’t necessarily that people will not be asked for consent”.
Mandatory means compulsory, it means obligatory, it means required by law. Period.
So, how do you ask for consent if it is mandatory??
Please clarify which part of ‘mandatory’ you do not understand.
True Jay, lungu is too lazy to use his brain thereby creating more problems for himself. The world is now wondering about him and his quest to eradicate an incurable disease. He will soon find out that u cannot eradicate AIDS but only prevent it something we have tried since when
They think leadership is simply sitting in a cabinet meeting full of Grade 12s who can not debate or disagree and passin such ill thought ideas.
Most people complaining are my menfolks.Our women started this along time ago and no one has ever raised a voice about this.This is all cowardice by the menfolks.I have seen men who are so happy when their women test negative at antenatal clinic yet they themselves are scared rats to visit the clinic for confirmation.They think that when their woman is negative,then they are,too – dumwits!!!! Go get tested and stop talking about human rights – mwe maule mwe !!!!!
@SayAsltis
Well said. What is it people fear about knowing their HIV/AIDS status? I do medicals every year which include HIV, hepatitis, BP, ECG, prostate etc. Even when I am told there is nothing to worry about these test, but when I am told, for instance, that my cholestral levels are a bit on the high side, I find a way of watching my diet and probably doing more exercise. I know I am not obese but these tests help me do something about my health.
Things dont become right because you do them. You are not everyone. Society includes other people who are not you
Consent is the key word. ..but just thinking why would one be afraid of knowing their status which may help them to lead a healthy life and that of their beloved ones? Anyway it’s my life. .it’s my choice. ..but don’t endanger other people.
So what happens to patients with ailments like headache who refuse to be tested for HIV? Will they be refused treatment and turned away? Lungu should not extend his decrees to innocent people’s lives. I have always supported this president but it’s like aya sana nomba
Brabus and China! You are the ones who don’t understand. In medical field such terms are used but it’s not the way you are interpreting. You can not test without taking the due process of counselling and consenting. In the country Where I’m working, the same word is used but not what you are thinking and I’m and I’m involved in providing such a service. It has worked well for it’s citizen. Maybe you in Zambia you doing it different. So, don’t take mandatory word for something else. Just accept it and implement it and you will see Benefits.
Do not confuse mandatory or compulsory with consent. I’m sure you’ve been tested for malaria, BP, blood sugar and temperature, those are also mandatory tests. You can always refuse and walk out anytime, no one will force you to be tested. Now that’s consent. Hiv will now be a mandatory screening procedure in short, the medical practitioner will inform you what tests are being conducted, after all they can’t force you to draw your blood.
Civil liberties and human rights to protect Zambians from an overzealous gov’t means nothing. Stealthy dictatorship keeps coming.
Only when employers start asking ..will it sink in with docile Zambians!!
To get around this compulsory nonsense and nip this dictatorial edict in the bud, let’s look to the law and make it a criminal offence to infect another knowingly or unknowingly be it via sex or otherwise.
Pf govt should have consulted the Zambian Citizens or do a feasibility study before making pronouncements.ELC should have encouraged or can still advise Members of Parliament to explain the directive to the people in their respective constituencies.Whatever borders on lives/citizens lets learn to involve them and explain the advantages and disadvantages of being tested.A RVs should be ready and enough to cutter for the affected Govt should not just assure that they will provide them.The late Sata rip sent MPS to educate the people on the removal of subsides and a larger percentage understood.
Moreover, mandatory in terms of providing such a service to all. When the client comes to the health facilities, officers should explain about such service and the benefits. It’s up to that individual to consent or not. That’s what we’re doing where I am. So, Guys if you hate the person don’t look everything in negative but analysis and understand.
CONSENT is everything and cardinal for all sorts of interactions. only babies when taken to the hospital do not give consent and it’s understandable why, the same can not be applied to adults in their right state of mind.
You see what you voted for now, he does not care what you think he is alpha and omega God incarnate in Zambia.
Don’t listen to these organisations. They have been holding on to the medicine for aids cure so that they make money out of your sickness. Imagine how many jobs will be lost if aids is ended. Also this disease was created to wipe out you blacks and it’s beyond me to hear people refusing to be treated. First they taught you that it’s against your rights to be tested. Now every sick walking is proud to move with the infection as long as he doesn’t know he is sick. I think it’s sickness causing people to politicise this move.
@HH OVAL HEAD,
‘….Also this disease was created to wipe out you blacks and it’s beyond me to hear people refusing to be treated….’??
Sovereignty, human rights, justice, peace all are vague terms merely used to redefine and reposition human madness. There’s nowhere on Earth where any these variables hold
Lungu and and his team, everything is done in a haphazard way. Abiding in the midst of ignorance, thinking themselves wise and learned, fools go aimlessly hither and thither, like blind (PF Government) led by the blind (Lungu).
The two UN agencies stressed that Zambia has adapted the WHO Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services (HTS) in line with the key principles of Consent, Confidentiality, Counselling, Correct Test Results and connection to HIV prevention, treatment and care (the 5Cs principles).
Its clear that the government does not read what it signs for. Here its clear the key word is “CONSENT”. I am not sure if in the government’s wisdom “MANDATORY” and “CONSENT ” mean the same thing. If the answer is YES let me know where these leaders went to school or better still for them if the meanings have changed ever since PF came into power.
Do we really need to go to court to understand that the meanings of these two words are different. What a disaster with PF in power!
UHURU KENYATTA BEAT RAILA ODINGA BY THE EQUIVALENT NUMBER OF PIPO IN ZAMBIA WITH HIV 1.2MILLION IS IT BY COINCIDENCE AND WHAT DOES IT INTEPRET TO? DO U THINK HON. KAMBWILI IS AMONG THE 1.2 OR NOT
Raila Odinga is another power hungry cancer .
Just too much alcohol abuse and promiscuity going on in Zambia. lodges and motels are sex dens rather than resting places for travelers and families. Men go for vacation and weekend outings with girl friends rather than with wife and children. Moral fabric of society is rotten. We have to deal with the foundation/root to contain this HIV scourge.
Instead of this nonsense, Lungu and PF should direct their energy, resources, and invest heavily in the following priority areas:
1) Employment creation – having jobs may help keep people busy, away from vices.
2) Education – an educated population is more rational and progressive to deal with.
3) Agriculture – cheap food availability not only improves healthy, but may also reduce prostitution.
4) Healthy – improved and well stocked hospitals where people go voluntarily when sick.
5) Basic services – improved water and power services provision will help in improving the quality of life of the Zambian masses.
And not wasting money on mandatory HIV testing. I am sure somebody somewhere will be corruptly getting a huge cut from buying the testing kits and mass ARV procurement…
@The Phantom Rascal….some of what you have highlighted won’t be achieved until HIV/AIDS is brought down. Hospitals are overwhelmed treating AIDS related ailments an example been UTH where 81% of cases treated are HIV/AIDS related. Secondly, how can you farm when the labour needed for farming is constantly sick because of HIV/AIDS and the standard of living has gone down because many households are keeping orphans who have lost parents to HIV/AIDS. In Zambia now we even have terms like “double orphan” terms describing HIV/AIDS orphans. It is a crisis in Zambia and should be treated like one. ” When the going gets tough, the tough gets going”! In the USA and other western countries you are tested for HIV/AIDS before you get a work permit or citizenship and it is compulsory because…
@Pelekelo–Applicants for US citizenship do not take any test for any type of diseases. Please, do not misinform people.
Instead of this nonsense, Lungu and PF should direct their energy, resources, and invest heavily in the following priority areas:Employment, Education, Agriculture, Healthy, and Services. Not corruptly wasting money on mandatory testing. Equally, doctors may corruptly become rich from being paid to falsify results. Because of this anticipated huge falsification, HIV may actually increase instead of decreasing. Also, most people may stop going to school in fear of being forced to go for testing. At the end, there actually be more un-educated and HIV positive people.
Let all the Dudes refusing to be tested die who cares after all it won’t be a mob psychology when you’re sick because you will suffer alone on that sick bed pretending not to know your status…Meanwhile LT bloggers shouting human rights will continue blogging kikikiki…
Why are women not complaining and only sick Dudes doing so….It’s because women are screened for HIV mandatory when they attend anti-natal clinical care and they are used hence don’t complain about human rights…So it’s only the sick Dudes scared of being screened who are shouting of human rights…kikikiki
The Question is does the Zambian government have all medicines they need to assist all those who will be found with the Condition(HIV/AIDS POSITIVE)? And my prayer, let these medicines will not end up being fake , since they will be pressure for Pharmaceutical companies to throw their junk to Zambia.
The two UN agencies stressed that Zambia has adapted the WHO Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services (HTS) in line with the key principles of Consent, Confidentiality, Counselling, Correct Test Results and connection to HIV prevention, treatment and care (the 5Cs principles).
And HH should declare his HIV status publicly especially it has bee pronounced immediately after he is been released from correctional centre in Mukobeko Maximum. I am sure something happened whilst there?
A wise comment by Honour Glass. Only a dull person would refuse to have a full investigation of what would be the cause their disease. Insulting the president over this matter is totally ridiculous.
So boring, everything has to be twisted. The article is very clearly but a number of negative people have decided to do their own analysis.
This BR Mumba guy is a strange fella. ‘Get out of my country’? Are you for real? Where do you want citizens of the country to go? Why are you confusing this decree to immigration conditions?
This forced HIV won’t in itself eradicate HIV or its spread. There is no evidence people who know their status refrain from engaging in activities that spread HIV. Also people will just turn away from hospitals and clinics, they call death traps. Right now most of my family members believe in the the healing provided by fake ‘prophets’ because they have lost faith in the hospitals.
Highly developed nations have very few HIV cases but they don’t have mandatory testing. Why? Maybe poverty, education, health care system, attitude, etc are the key factors you need to focus on.
why this dram ba PF on HIV when peole are dying of anaemia ? And why didnt the president lead by example and test himself together with the first lady in public instead of just going for his BP ? they cant make pronouncement when themselves are dead scare of the same.Diagnosis and treatment of HIV is beyond Zambia national budget .So where do they get these free money for the program instead of promoting industrial growth and job creation?
We the people must be protected from all this cheating and forcing to test against our constitutional rights prescribed under the bill of rights because …
1. Pf guys could be benefitting from procurement of these HIV kits
2..PF people could be targetting HH here because their sudden love of the virus is unexplainable ….i suspect they have…