Pretoria -Tuesday 20th June, 2017
Zambia has called for increased regional dialogue among political, religious and traditional leaders to achieve the goals of reducing new HIV infections and AIDS related deaths among key population in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Zambia’s representative at the SAFAIDS regional consultative meeting being held in Pretoria, South Africa, Sydney Mushanga who is also Central Province Minister said increased involvement of leadership from political, religious and traditional sectors will serve to address stigma and discriminatory practices in society.
Mr Mushanga says increased collaboration among influential members of society will improve access by key population to HIV prevention,testing and treatment Services among citizens of different government in the SADC region.
He noted that Zambia had shown political will in addressing HIV/AIDS related issues by rolling out health facilities in different parts of the country as well as upgrading some clinics to hospital level to ensure that its citizens had easy access to HIV prevention and treatment services.
He added that Zambia’s participation at the regional Consortium and consultative meeting stands to benefit the country through exchange of information and strategies that various member countries are using to new HIV infections and AIDS related deaths among their population.
Zambia is among eight other countries that include Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Namibia that have formed a consortium, funded by Global Fund to implement the objective of reducing new HIV infections and AIDS related deaths among key population.
Mrs Naomi Nyawali
First Secretary Press and Public Relations.
Zambia High Commission
Pretoria
South Africa.
Email : kayulachulu@yahoo.com
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