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Chinsali District Commissioner (DC), Evelyn Kangwa, says there is need to re-energize and support all efforts aimed at reducing new HIV infection rate.
Ms Kangwa observed that in the next two years to come, if Zambia is to achieve in reducing the current new HIV infection of 4.5 percent to Zero per cent, there is need to concentrate on intensifying prevention of new infections in the district and the country at large.
Ms Kangwa said this yesterday in a speech read on her behalf by District Administrative Officer (DAO), Noah Simulunga, at the commemoration of World AIDS Day which was held at Chinsali President`s park.
The event was celebrated under the theme “Getting Zambia to zero: zero new HIV infections, zero stigma and discrimination, and zero and AIDS related deaths”.
Ms Kangwa said the prevention strategies that need to be stepped up include promoting male medical circumcision and the scaling up the elimination of mother to child transmission, among others.
She said Government is committed to ensuring that gender and human rights are incorporated in all sector policies, plans and programmes intended to respond on HIV/AIDS countrywide.
The DC, however, called for double efforts in dealing with HIV/AIDS pandemic among traditional, political, religious, civic and business leaders across the country to actively support the legal and social economic environment.
And Speaking on behalf of District Community Medical Officer (DCMO), David Silweya, Medical Officer in-charge, Stephen Chibosha, said getting Zambia to zero campaign will certainly stimulate efforts of achieving AIDS related Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Mr Chibosha disclosed that currently Chinsali district has a total number of 3612 adults and 540 children on antiretroviral treatment (ART).
He said most Zambians do not have their infection under control as they do not know their HIV status.
Mr Chibosha said getting Zambia to zero requires each citizen to know his/her HIV status by getting tested.
