FIRST LADY CONCERNED WITH SLOW DECLINE OF NEW HIV INFECTIONS

By Mary Kachepa- First Lady Esther Lungu is concerned with the slow pace at which new HIV infection rates are declining.

Mrs Lungu says the reduction has been slow despite continued and sustained investments in prevention, treatment and care programmes across the twenty high burden countries which includes Zambia.

She further says the slow pace at which new HIV infections are declining can be attributed to low comprehensive knowledge on HIV particularly between those that are15 and 19 years old.

The First Lady further added that it is regrettable that in the last Five years, there has been a shift in the pandemic with about two out of every five new infections being in young people aged between 15 and 24.

She is further concerned that majority of young people that were born HIV free are getting infected with HIV as they become sexually active.

Mrs Lungu says the country has had successes through the multi sectoral HIV response, such as increased coverage of HIV treatment and reduction of AIDS related deaths.

She was speaking during the National Adolescent HIV Surge Indaba 2021 commemorated under the theme Adolescent Voices for HIV.

Mrs. Lungu said she hopes the Indaba will address challenges that prevents young people from accessing HIV services.

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