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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.

 

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