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Zambia marks reduction in HIV prevalence

Xinhua, December 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zambia joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World AIDS Day here Thursday with new figures showing that the country has recorded a decline in HIV prevalence rates.

According to results of the Zambia Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment conducted between March and August this year, HIV prevalence rate among adults aged 15 to 49 was recorded at 11.6 percent, down from 13.3 percent in 2013/2014, while the rate among children aged between 0 and 14 stood at 1.3 percent.

The survey further established that the country was recording 46,000 new HIV cases every year, a significant reduction from projections in 2009 where new infections were pegged at 72,000 per year.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said during the commemoration that the results show significant accomplishments in efforts aimed at eliminating HIV by 2030.

"However, a lot still has to be done ... We will pursue stronger partnership with all our key allies to ensure that we accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS," he said.

The Zambian minister said the government will roll out vigorous campaign for HIV prevention in the coming months to all parts of the country.

Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Representative Medhin Tsehaiu said Zambia was on the right path in its efforts to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.

She said the UN systems in Zambia will work closely with the government to ensure that the country continue its efforts to prevent new HIV infections through various interventions.

Zambia, she said, was among 13 countries in the world which are on the UN fast-track strategy to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Endit