Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Acting President Guy Scott has called for continue interventions in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In a speech read on his behalf by Community Development Mother and Child Health Minister Emerine Kabanshi during the commemoration of World AIDS Day which falls today under the theme: “Zambia at 50 towards Zero Stigma”, Dr Scott says government remains committed to increasing domestic resources towards the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Scott says as the country continues to celebrate its golden jubilee, it is important to continue coming up with interventions to fight HIV/AIDS.
He notes that HIV/AIDS has over the years continued to impact negatively on the many lives of the citizens and on the national economy.
Dr Scott says the month of December provides an opportunity for the country to evaluate and assess the performance with respect to the country’s response to the epidemic.
He adds that there is need to scale up HIV treatment, stating that the new guidelines provide an opportunity to treat most of the citizens on time and avert new HIV infections.
Dr. Scott says failure to apply the fast track approach in combating the disease; the country risks the AIDS pandemic continuing to outweigh the response.
He has further implored the cooperating partners to continue to support the country with the critical services until it is able to stand on its own.
Speaking earlier National Aids Council (NAC) Director General Jabbin Mulwanda says many of the people do not know the facts about HIV/AIDS and do not know their status, while stigma in the communities is rife.
And United Nations Representative Dr. Hamid El-Bashir Ibrahim has called on world leaders to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS so as to end AIDS by 2030.
Report by Lusa Kilale