Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
US Ambassador to Zambia Eric Shultz has reiterated his government’s commitment to seeing Zambia achieve an AIDS free generation.
Mr. Shultz has observed that this commitment has already been demonstrated by the US$325 million the United States has planned to contribute to Zambia’s HIV response through the 2015 Country Operational Plan (COP).
He says to this end, COP is changing significantly from previous years as it is now in a very different place with the HIV epidemic.
Mr. Shultz states progress has thus been made and that the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) strategy-PEPFAR 3.0 – is being adapted to build on this progress.
He says the focus of this PEPFAR strategy is heading towards sustainable control of the HIV epidemic.
The US envoy has suggested that in order to reach the ambitious 90-90-90 global goal which is a representation of the 90 percent of people with HIV diagnosed, 90 percent of them on ART and 90 percent of them virally suppressed by 2020, there is need to shift the way of doing business.
He says the shift he is referring to is that which is outlined through the principles of PEPFAR 3.0.
Mr. Shultz says this is because the belief of PEPFAR is that the best way to control the HIV epidemic is by using data strategically as possible to pivot to an approach that deliberately targets geographic areas and populations where the impact of the investment being made can be achieved.
The US ambassador was speaking this morning during the official opening of the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan stakeholder consultation meeting in Lusaka.