Wednesday 1 December 2010

ONLY 15% OF ADULT ZAMBIANS KNOW THEIR HIV STATUS - UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR


By The Globe Reporter
UN Resident Coordinator Kanni Wignaraja has called for more efforts towards mitigating HIV and AIDS.
Speaking during commemoration of World AIDS Day held at Lusaka’s Olympic Youth Development Centre, Wignaraja observed that only 15 per cent of adult Zambians knew their HIV status.
“The UN Family stands proud with Zambia and the world to say that we have made progress but we can do even more. Only 15 % of adult Zambians know their HIV status. The milestones reached in Zambia have been possible because families, communities, government and cooperating partners have united in an unprecedented movement to control the spread of HIV,” she said. “ But all these gains are threatened and lost if we take our eyes off the response that must continue.  So we are asking for a radical scale-up in efforts.”
She reminded Zambians the fight against HIV and AIDS was not over because 226 adults and 25 children still get infected every day in Zambia.
“So while we are reaping the benefits of years of hard work in controlling the spread of HIV.  With young people delaying their sexual debut and having fewer partners, more people are choosing to use condoms, men are voluntarily choosing to get circumcised, mothers are accessing services to prevent passing HIV to their children and more people are starting treatment,” she said. “Today, we mourn friends and family which have lost their lives to AIDS and who were hurt by bad laws and stigma and discrimination. So let us unite to get rid of these hindering practices. Too many Zambians still need treatment. This is a shared responsibility. So let us make sure this is made available. Let us not be fearful; let us speak out against sexual violence.”
Wignaraja said much of the change required did not come through projects but a change in hearts, minds and behaviours.
“So let us not hide, let us not be fearful, and let us not discriminate. Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination, Zero AIDS related deaths is possible in our lifetime!” she said.

No comments:

Post a Comment