SOUND POLICIES HELP REDUCE NEW HIV INFECTIONS - LUNGU

…as KK is awarded lifetime award for fight against AIDS

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says robust policies have contributed to Zambia’s decline in new HIV infections by 41 percent and that it is a sign of hope that the country can end AIDS as a public health problem by 2030.

Mr Lungu said Government was implementing a combination of high impact interventions in collaboration with various stakeholders which have contributed to the decline in new HIV infections by 41 percent from 77,500 in 2010 to 46,000 in 2016.

He said the decline in new infections was an indication that concerted efforts to fight the scourge were not in vain but that more remained to be done.

The Head of State said this yesterday, at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka when he officiated at the commemoration of the 2017 World AIDS Day and launch of the Lusaka Surge Campaign whose theme was “Ending AIDS by 2030 starts with me!”

Mr Lungu said the launch of the 2018 Lusaka Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Surge Campaign dubbed “Tiyende Pamodzi” was aimed at achieving HIV epidemic control within one year in Lusaka, which he said currently has a 25 percent of the national HIV burden.

“We have continued to witness a decline in new infections due to concerted efforts by various stakeholders. This shows that our efforts to fight this epidemic are not in vain. However, there is still work to be done,” he said.

And President Lungu has honoured first republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda with a lifetime achievement award for his stance against HIV/AIDS.

Mr Lungu said Dr Kaunda had set the way for the campaign against the epidemic and attracted international aid when he publicly told the world that one of his sons had died from HIV.

He said Dr Kaunda was not only the father of the nation but also a teacher who had composed an 11 track album and sang notable songs about the scourge such as “We shall fight and conquer AIDS.

President Lungu said Zambia joined the Global HIV Prevention Coalition comprised of 24 countries with a high burden of the epidemic.

He said the National Prevention Coalition would be formed under the patronage of the First Lady, Mrs Esther Lungu and would be co-chaired by ministers responsible for health and finance while an appointed member of the clergy would be the vice-chairperson.

Minister of Health Dr Chitalu Chilufya applauded President Lungu for his strong political will and leadership in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS.