Over 915,000 HIV positive people on treatment

Over more than 915,000 HIV patients have been put on anti-retroviral treatment (art) countrywide.

President Edgar Lungu has described the achievement as a huge leap from having only about 3500 people living with hiv on art in 2003.

Speaking during the commemoration of world aids day, under the theme “run the last mile; leaving no one behind”, president lungu says due to robust strategies being implemented, Zambia has recorded a reduction in new hiv infections by 41 percent translating from 77,500 in 2010 to 46,000 in 2016.

President Lungu says despite all these achievements, more needs to be done, in meeting an estimated 300,000 people living with HIV to be put on art.

The head of state has stated that Zambia has worked tirelessly towards finding solutions to bring the hiv epidemic under control.

President Lungu says this has been through collaborations and partnerships between government, cooperating partners, the church, non-governmental organisations, and traditional and religious leaders.

President Lungu is however happy with the progress the country is making towards achieving the desired United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 goals in controlling the epidemic.

The head of state has since called upon every Zambians to know their HIV status and especially men who are among the groups with low hiv testing and treatment coverage.

Meanwhile United States Ambassador to Zambia, Daniel Foote has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to continue its staunch leadership of impressive international efforts, and support of the Zambian government in achieving its goal of reaching epidemic control by 2020.

Mr. Foote says the American people’s generosity has saved more than a million Zambian lives, prevented hundreds of thousands of new HIV infections, and brought the world closer than ever to controlling the HIV pandemic.