Govt scales up war against HIV/AIDS

Sun, 11 Jun 2017 11:47:50 +0000

By ANNIE ZULU

GOVERNMENT has scaled up its fight against HIV/AIDS in Zambia, Ministry of Health Spokesperson Kennedy Malama has said.

Dr. Malama said Government through the Ministry of Health has adopted the ‘Test and Treat strategy’ which entailed that anyone diagnosed with HIV should commence on treatment immediately.

He told the Daily Nation in an interview that guidelines had been provided to health workers countrywide to operationalise the directive.

He, however, said the key was to ensure that all Zambians knew their HIV status, as this would spur the country to eliminating HIV by 2030.

“United Nations joint program on HIV/AIDS has provided fast track targets of 90.90.90 implying, 90 percent of the people living with HIV should know their status, 90 percent of these should be put on quality and sustainable ART.

“Also 90 percent of these should reach viral suppression in which HIV cannot be detected in the blood or indeed only few copies are noticeable, such a state reduces the chances of transmitting the virus. HIV treatment is prevention.

“At least 30 percent of people living with HIV do not know their HIV status in Zambia, this needs to change,” Dr. Malama said.

He explained that ‘Test and Treat’ strategy was advocating to ensure that all Zambians were offered HIV test through an opt out approach and that those found positive were put on treatment immediately.