Skip to main content

Livingstone District Health Director Urges Community-Led Approach in World AIDS Day

Chimwemwe Phiri, the Acting Livingstone District Health Director, delivered a compelling speech on World AIDS Day, emphasizing the significance of community involvement and a family-centered approach in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Addressing the distinguished guests, including the Guest of Honor, heads of various departments, partners, stakeholders, and invited guests, Phiri acknowledged the importance of World AIDS Day as a platform for national leaders to publicly recommit support to the response, encompassing material, human, infrastructure, monetary, and supportive policy and legal reforms.

Phiri noted that since 2004, Zambia has been commemorating World AIDS Day in alignment with United Nations initiatives. The day serves as an occasion to celebrate the lives of those who lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses and showcase various interventions undertaken by communities and partners throughout the year.

Livingstone, being a border area with a steadily increasing population due to government projects, faces one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the country, standing at 13.2% in the Southern Province. Phiri highlighted the continued need for HIV/AIDS impact mitigation in the region.

Focusing on the global UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, Phiri urged the community to work towards ensuring that 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of diagnosed individuals receive sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 percent of those on ART achieve viral suppression.

Phiri underscored the community-led approach encouraged by this year's theme, "Let Communities Lead." He commended the increased uptake of HIV testing and counseling services (HTCT) in Livingstone District, citing the success of the index testing approach, which identified 1561 people living with HIV in the past year, all of whom were linked to treatment.

Livingstone District currently has 21,631 individuals on ART, with an impressive 96% achieving viral suppression. Phiri concluded the speech by congratulating the Ministry of Health, cooperating partners, the District AIDS Committee, and various stakeholders for their proactive role in promoting community involvement and a family-centered approach, emphasizing that viral suppression contributes significantly to ending HIV/AIDS.

In closing, Phiri wished everyone a successful World AIDS Day, reinforcing the importance of collective efforts and community-led initiatives in the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Zambia is not a dumping ground for dental amalgam

Livingstone University Teaching Hospital’s dental surgeon, Dr. Robin Mwewa, has raised critical concerns about the dangers of mercury in dental amalgam fillings.  Speaking at a recent health forum, Dr. Mwewa detailed the adverse effects of mercury on human health and the environment, urging for greater awareness and action.   Mercury, a key component in dental amalgam, has been used globally for over a century to treat cavities.  Its introduction in dentistry originated in Europe, with countries like France and Britain pioneering its application.  However, the long-term consequences of mercury exposure were not understood until much later.   Health Risks Associated with Mercury Exposure Dr. Mwewa highlighted several health complications linked to mercury exposure from dental amalgam fillings:   1. Tremors: Mercury can cause involuntary muscle contractions, commonly affecting the legs.   2.  Emotional Instability: Excessive merc...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mara Moyo, a devoted daughter and extraordinary caregiver

  CHALI MULENGA  Livingstone Mara Moyo, a devoted daughter and extraordinary caregiver, has captured the hearts of many with her selfless commitment to her father's care. Her inspiring story of sacrifice and love sheds light on the profound impact of familial dedication and service to others. Mara, now 31, recounts her upbringing in Livingstone, Zambia, under the influence of her father, Joseph Moyo, a beacon of compassion and service. "I grew up seeing a father who gave his all for the benefit of others. I just wanted to be like him," she recalls. Mara's father dedicated his life to uplifting vulnerable members of society, from street children to sex workers, leaving an indelible mark on Mara's values and aspirations. Despite attending Nalituwe Primary School and David Livingstone High School, Mara's educational journey was intrinsically shaped by her father's impactful legacy rather than formal schooling. Mara fondly reminisces, "The foundation of m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fake COVID 19 certificates for international travellers

THE Livingstone magistrate's court has a-45-year hospital porter to 24 months imprisonment with hard labour for making three fake COVID-19 certificates for international travellers. This is in case Moses Kambole of house number 27 Nakatindi Township, Livingstone, was charged with three counts of making a false documents by the police, however the charges were substituted by the court to forgery. This was after the court analysed the ingredients of the case. On February 15 and 16 this year in Livingstone, Kambole with the intention to defraud he made a forged three medical certificates for international travel, with serial numbers 05-0131944, 05-0131945 and 05-0151956, they were purporting to show that it was issued by ministry of health when in fact not. And in sentencing Kambole, chief resident magistrate Exnobert Zulu said Kambole’s conduct is unacceptable as COVID 19 was deadly disease and he put a lot of people at risk of infections by forging the certificates because of...
Post a Comment
Read more