High HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Kalabo District saddens govt.

High HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Kalabo District saddens govt.

Kalabo, July 3/2013, ZANIS ——— Government says it is saddened that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Kalabo district was still high.

Kalabo District Commissioner (DC) Irene Mate and that Kalabo was one of the worst hit districts by the epidemic in the Western province as it was standing at nine percent (9%).

ZANIS reports that the Kalabo District Commissioner said this  when she officiated at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) day that was commemorated at Sihole area in Kalabo District, over the long weekend.

She revealed that at only thirteen percent (13%) of the people of Kalabo knew their status.

Mrs. Mate disclosed this when she officiated at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) day that was commemorated at Sihole area in Kalabo last Sunday.

The DC said that if all the people went for VCT, they would be equipped with knowledge to either protect them from infection, or live positively with HIV/AIDS and access treatment when they needed it.

Mrs. Mate said that it was also important to generalize the epidemic than targeting high risk groups so that that everyone could get tested in all the 28 VCT centers of Kalabo and also the need to encourage for the mobile VCT services.

She  said that it was important for people to know how to prevent themselves from HIV/AIDS adding that counseling still needed strengthening to help people deal with HIV/AIDS.

She said that there was need to promote the principle of confidentiality and consent in order for the people to feel comfortable with VCT and that those involved in the counseling and testing needed to strictly adhere to their professional ethics.

The DC said that VCT was vital because those who were infected would know how they could lead healthy and productive lives and continue to contribute positively to the development of Kalabo and the nation as a whole.