First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa says stigmatization of HIV and AIDS positive individuals must not be entertained.
Mrs. Mwanawasa says stigma has resulted in depression and the early death of the afflicted.
The First Lady was speaking when she officiated at a meeting for Chief Executives on HIV/AIDS in Lusaka today.
She said this is unfortunate because with the availability of the life-prolonging drugs, people who are HIV/AIDS positive are able to live long and productive lives.
Mrs. Mwanawasa said the HIV/AIDS pandemic needs a multi-sectoral response to halt its spread and mitigate its impact.
She called stakeholder such as the Church and the private sector to offer the necessary support to government in the fight against the pandemic.
Mrs. Mwanawasa pointed out that each and every interest group, and every individual has a role to play in the fight against the pandemic.
She further called for a new and comprehensive approach to the fight against the disease which have continued to rob humanity of its productive human resource.
Mrs. Mwanawasa said the private sector responses to HIV and AIDS need to involve workplace and community-based polices and programmes.
She said the business community should advocate for proactive approaches that include equitably employment polices and work place programmes and support for broader HIV prevention and management in society.
Mrs. Mwanawasa noted that the Executive Directors must ensure that the organizations that they direct put in place comprehensive HIV/AIDS work place polices that will address specific issues brought by the scourge.
And Care Zambia Project Manager Njekwa Lumbwe saluted government for recognizing HIV and AIDS as a cross cutting issue.
Ms Lumbwe noted that partnerships are essential in the fight against the pandemic.