Zambia moves to close financing gaps in HIV programs

Mkhondo Lungu

Deputy Speaker of National Assembly Mkhondo Lungu says the nation should be worried that Zambia records about 19, 000 new HIV infections every year.

Speaking during the SADC national parliamentary project on sustainable HIV financing dialogue meeting at Parliament buildings this morning, Mr. Lungu says Zambia is still among the eight countries in the world that contribute 70 percent of the HIV epidemic.

He says bearing in mind these statistics, there is need for all stakeholders involved in HIV response to have a fresh concern with regard to the epidemic.

He says the gloomy picture is a reminder that there is need for the nation to seek sustainable solutions using domestic sources of funding.

Mr. Lungu says this is the one way the nation will be able to fulfill the various commitments made towards the HIV response through international and regional declarations such as the Maseru declaration on HIV and AIDS, the Abuja declaration and recently the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Deputy Speaker states that it is therefore significant that parliamentarians and key stakeholders are sensitized on HIV/AIDS resource gaps as well as strengthen national partnerships for the response.

Speaking at the same event, UNAIDS Country Representative Medhin Tsehaiu says the UN Agency has launched a “triple 90 campaign” which is aimed at ensuring that by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy have viral suppression.

Ms Tsehaiu says the HIV statistics for Zambia are not motivating thus the need for the nation to address the financing gap in fighting the vice.