HIV/AIDS potential hindrance to development

HIV/AIDS potential hindrance to development

Mansa, July 1, 2014, ZANIS………………. Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo has observed that HIV/AIDS has the potential to reverse the gains that the country has earned since independence 50 years ago.

The Permanent Secretary said the country has been affected by HIV/AIDS adding that more efforts need to be taken if the spread of the disease is to be stopped.

ZANIS reports that the Permanent Secretary said this in a speech read for him by the Chief Human Resources and Development Officer Daniel Mukosha during the commemoration of the National VCT Day at Muchinka grounds in Mansa yesterday.

Mr Kasolo said government has revised the national HIV/AIDS strategic framework (R-NASF) covering  the period 2014-2016 and that the revised policy is meant to guide the implementation of the national HIV Multi-sectoral response in the country.

He said the policy is guided by UNAIDS “investment approach” which puts people at the center of national response focusing on evidence based interventions.

He said evidence has shown that it is possible to achieve more positive health outcomes if investment in high impact intervention programmes such as behavioral change, use of condoms, Anti retroviral Therapy and prevention of mother to child transmissions are fully adhered to.

And speaking at the same function, Mansa District Administrative Officer Evans Sikabbuba underscored the role that Voluntary Counselling and Testing VCT plays in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Mr Sikabbuba said the benefits are arising from Voluntary Testing and Counseling are enormous and called for seriousness over  the issue of accessing VCT.

Meanwhile,  Provincial AIDS Coordination Advisor (PACA) Nathan Kabwe said it was disappointing to learn that only a few organizations dealing with HIV/AIDS were present to exhibit at the commemoration.

This year’s National VCT Day was commemorated with the theme: “Reaching everyone, everywhere with annual HIV counseling and testing services.”