First Lady regret slow pace in HIV new infection reduction

And calls for efforts to end the emergence triple tragedy of HIV infection, unintended pregnancies and early marriage to save young girls and women

By Francis Maingaila

(01-10-19) – Zambia’s First Lady Esther Lungu is extremely bothered by the slow pace in the reduction of HIV new infection.
Ms Lungu told journalists when she unveiled the adolescence health services and communication tools in Lusaka that despite the massive investment and care programs made the number of infections are still very high.
“What has been witnessed in the last 5 years is a shift in the epidemic with two out of five new infection being young people aged between 15 and 24 and 7 out of 10 of these new infection are girls and young women.”
Another worrisome development we have observed in Zambia, Mrs Lungu observed is the emergence of triple tragedy, including HIV infection, unintended pregnancies and underage or early marriage affecting adolescence girls and young women.
She also note with great concern that the majority of young people who were born HIV free are now getting infected with HIV when they become sexually active.
“This shows that, the number of people transmitting HIV is still high contrary to the expectations.”
She said the ambition of the Free to shine campaign of ensuring that children are born HIV free and that they stay as adolescents, young adults and in adults must be turned into a reality.
She expressed the need to stop the trend by way of increasing access to prevention, treatment and use of condoms.
She warned the girls  not to take the advice of using condoms as a green light to free sex.
Ms Lungu wants the girls to learn and complete education their education because educated girls are free to operate and know the dangers of fooling around.
Ms Lungu however is optimistic that the fight against HIV will be won by the set goal of 2030.
Ms Lungu observed that Zambia in the recent has recorded the greatest success in the fight against HIV thanks to the multi sectoral HIV response.
She said the launch of Free to shine campaign has contributed not only to increased awareness but also ownership and accountability to end HIV in children and keeping mother alive.
She said the campaign has made head ways at all level through the effective campaign to use life.
Speaking earlier United Nations Country representatives Coumba Gadio commended the Zambian government for creating an enabling environment in the fight against HIV.
Gadio said the UN family is particularly happy that president Edgar Lungu has taken the fight against HIV in Zambia seriously.
Gadio said the UN systems in Zambia will continue to support the government in its continued fight against the HIV fight.
According to Gadio, the UN is supporting the Zambian government in the fight against HIV because it want to supplement efforts Zambia has in wanting not to leave anyone behind.
She said the UN is exerting all the efforts to ensure that the Zambia’s dream of ending the HIV by 2030 become a reality.
She however also regretted a slow pace in the achievement of eliminating the HIV endemic.
Gadio observed that huge sums of money have been pumped both by the government and its corporating partners in the fight but little success has been achieved.
She said the HIV trend which has shifted to young people especially women which has now reached 10, 000 in the recent past.
In response, Gadio said the UN will continue helping Zambia to find better intervention methods that will help to reduced the infection.
To achieve this goal, Gadio further stated, the UN will prioritise the campaign against the HIV through prevention and treatment.
To attaining this goal, the UN will require political will investment in the program.
And speaking on behalf the minister of health Dr. Chatalu Chilufya, Dr. Kakululelo Mulalelo disclosed that the government has been working towards not only to controlling but also eliminating the infection of HIV among children.
Dr Mulalelo also commended the first lady for taking a lead ensuring that the program of fighting HIV  become a reality.
She said the first lady is sourcing for resources towards ensuring that the fight against HIV among young people become materialised.
With her help, the government will succeed in defeating HIV transmission among the young people who are more vulnerable to the endemic.
Amd Minister of High Education Brian Mushimba has observed that the efforts being exhibited in the fight against HIV is embodied in the Seventh national development plan.
Mushimba said the government is fighting HIV via preventing and treating is working well as planned and is hopeful that the trend of having two out of every three children infected is reversed.
He thanked the partners for coming on board to assist in the fight against the HIV endemic.
He warned lecturers that are in a habit of sexually abusing school going students of punitive action.
He said the ministry will not take kindly any report coming to him suggesting that lecturers are still abusing children.

Meanwhile the NAC said there has been a stead decrease in the HIV prevalence among people from 16 to 12%.
NAC attributed the decline to the concerted efforts from the government which has ensured that there is continuous, prevention and treating.
He advised the young people on the need to be smart by way of adopting skills that will help them to escape the trouble associated with HIV.