Zambia nets over 900,000 ART patients

By CHIKUMBI KATEBE ZAMBIA has made huge achievements in the fight against HIV/AIDS with over 900,000 people currently on antiretroviral therapy from 42,000 in 2016, says Republican President Edgar Lungu.

And United Nations AIDS executive director Mitchell Sidibe has hailed the Zambian Government for taking a bold decision to implement compulsory test and treat HIV programme to allow more people access ARVs for improved health for those living positive.

In a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Inonge Wina, President Lungu said the attainment of Zambia’s goal as a middle-income country by 2030 was slowly being realised in line with the 7th National Development Plan towards making a health nation and productive people.

This was at the launch of the Zambia Integrated Heath Situation Room, an electronic visualization tool for a more focused health data collection and analysis towards improved service provision and support.

“This tool will enable various institutions, including my office, the Vice-President’s office ministers and the secretary to the Cabinet’s office to have data readily available for informed decision-making.

He said Zambia had recorded huge reduction in the infection rates from 77,500 in 2010 to 42,000 2016, as well as increased access to treatment.

The Head of State also acknowledged that malaria remains a leading cause of death in Zambia with over 1,800 people killed in 2016 alone.

He said with the Integrated situation room, the country should enhance response towards reducing and consequently ending malaria and other such deadly diseases robbing Zambia of its worthy citizens.

“Malaria disproportionately affects children and pregnant women in Zambia, and together with HIV, is a major contributor to the ill-health and deaths of our mothers and children in the country. It is for this reason that the Government is dealing with this issue through highly robust systems,” he said.

He called on stakeholders to make use of the integrated situation room in their research activities in search of effective response to the disease burden among the nation.

And the UNAIDS chief hailed Zambia for taking a robust step towards the HIV/AIDS fight that gives the country a new lease of life with enhance treatment plan following the test and treat action plan for the people.

Mr Sidibe said it was important that all those with HIV to begin taking treatment to normalize their health situation for a healthy and productive lifestyle, to enhance their life expectancy.

“HIV is not just a disease, it is about people, about that key population that is scared economy. It is about those people who are scared of testing. It is about those people who don’t know that are HIV positive.

“But the move by the Government to make routine test and treat has opened access to treatment to make their lives normal, to improve life expectancy,” he said. Mr Sidibe also said the UNAIDS was in support of building a self-sustaining health system that was not wholly dependent on donor funding, such as increased investment in the manufacturing of both medical equipment and medicines.

The UNAIDS chief said he was impressed with the Government’s position and President Lungu’s perception of health reforms that should increased focus on the 2030 objectives from the 90-90-90 to 100-100-100 which was attainable at the rate Zambia was moving.