915,000 people living with HIV on ART

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya has disclosed that 915,000 people tested for HIV since President Edgar Lungu announced the introduction of mandatory routine HIV Testing, Counselling and Treatment (HTCT) in 2017.

Speaking during an en d of year policy meeting in Lusaka, Dr Chilufya has reaffirmed his ministry’s focus on interventions and provision of adequate health care services and facilities to ensure a healthy and productive Zambia in line with the seventh national development plan.

Dr Chilufya says as a result of various interventions the ministry has put in place, the year 2018 recorded reductions in mortality rates and deaths caused by Malaria.

He says the ministry is focused on eliminating malaria deaths and reducing the maternal mortality ratio by the year 2021.

Dr Chitalu says the ministry targets to reduce maternal mortality from the current 398 per 100,000 to 100 per 100,000 deaths by 2021.

He adds that the ministry has this year employed 16,579 heath workers of the targeted 30,000 health workers to be employed between 2017 and 2019.

Dr Chilufya further states that the ministry is on track in meeting the legacy target of its infrastructure development agenda.

Speaking on behalf of lead civil society organisations, Churches Health Association of Zambia Executive Director Karen Sichinga in a speech read on her behalf by CHAZ Head of advocacy planning and development Yorum Siame commended the ministry of health for the various successes it has recorded in 2018.