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Chipata DC urges residents to go for VCT

Chipata, July 1 ,2014, ZANIS —- Chipata District Commissioner Kalunga Zulu has called on the people in the district to go for Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) to know their status.

Mr Zulu said although there are positive indicators which show that 85 percent of the Zambian population is uninfected, stakeholders should concentrate on innovative ways of preventing further the spread of HIV in the district.

He was speaking during the commemoration of National VCT day at Chikando Primary School ground in Chief Nzamane’s area in Chipata yesterday.

However the DC stated that despite this the district still remains one of the districts with the heaviest burden of mature generalised HIV and AIDS epidemic with prevalence rate of 22.6 percent and the youths being the most vulnerable.

He stated that the move by stakeholders to hold such an important event in a rural setup will assist in an evenly distribution of dissemination information to enable people make informed decision by going for VCT.

“Annually , only 15 percent of our population has been tested for HIV despite government and its partners efforts to make VCT services available in 52 static sites in the district,” he said.

And in his testimony Joseph Tembo stated that after attending a sensitisation meeting on VCT he decided  to go for VCT in Chief Nzamane’ area.

He said he tested in February 2006 at new start mobile service at Kamutemeni Rural Health Centre and was found positive.

Mr Tembo stated that the testing helped him start medication since his CD4 was low at 160 and was also put on Anti retral Viral Therapy (ART) which helped him get better and able to do chores like anybody else.

He has since urged others to go for VCT because the benefits are many as one is able to plan for the future whether positive or negative and live positive life.