— Govt. calls for VCT services closer to the people

Govt. calls for VCT services closer to the people

Solwezi , July 1^st, 2014, ZANIS —-  Solwezi Mayor Ezekiel Mulonga has called on the civil society providing Voluntary Counselling and testing (VCT) services in the district to establish service centres closer to the people.

Mr. Mulonga says there is need for the Civil society in the area to provide  their VCT services  closer to the people in order to reduce distances .

The mayor said the long distances are discouraging people from accessing VCT services especially those living in rural communities in Solwezi.

Mayor Mulonga said this during the commemoration of this year’s National VCT day in Mushindamo area in Solwezi.

VCT day is being commemorated under the theme: “Reaching everyone, everywhere with annual HIV counselling and testing”.

People in Mushindamo area are forced to walk over 100 kilometres to Solwezi General Hospital in town to access VCT services.

And  Solwezi district commissioner Crispin Likando said Solwezi district is at likely to exceed the 10.2 per cent prevalence rate of HIV if VCT services are not rolled out to rural communities.

Mr. Likando said this is because the district has continued to record an increase in population that is following the rapid economic activities.

He however applauded Zambia – Led Prevention Initiative (ZPI) and Society for Family Health for providing the male circumcision services in the area.