Thu, 29 Jun 2017 14:09:20 +0000
By CHINTU MALAMBO
TRADITIONAL leaders should take a leading role in the sensitization of their subjects on the dangers and spread of HIV/AIDS, Chieftainess Chiawa has said.
Speaking during a donor field visit in her chiefdom, launched by SAFAIDS Zambia, dubbed “Rock leadership 90” Chieftainess Chiawa of the Gova speaking people implored her fellow traditional leaders to spearhead the fight against HIV/AIDS in their chiefdoms.
The traditional leader charged that it was easier for subjects to get tested and know their status when their local leaders called on them to do so.
She said that she was given the responsibility to launch the HIV/AIDS indaba in Kafue district last year and that people turned up in large numbers to know their status.
“Traditional leaders play a very significant role in the fight against HIV/AIDs. Personally I have been in the forefront to ensure that I mobilize my subjects to raise up and get tested, so that after they have known their status, they know how to take better care for themselves,” she said.
Chieftainess Chiawa said before the introduction of HIV awareness in her chiefdom, a number of young people lost their lives due to ignorance.
And Ministry of Health HIV/AIDS and TB regional coordinator Wesley Kalunga said that it was important that those that tested positive continued taking medication and took care of themselves to reduce the number of deaths.
“Those who have tested positive should not think that this is the end. There is medication which they should commit to receive,” he said.
Mr Kalunga further said that the Ministry of Health was committed to see the reduction of HIV/AIDS through partnering with various cooperating partners across the country.
