Zambia: First Lady says Zambia may defeat AIDS by 2030
Lusaka, Zambia (PANA) – Zambia’s First Lady, Esther Lungu, says the Zambian Government is committed to ending AIDS by 2030, and achieving HIV/AIDS epidemic control by 2021.
The First lady disclosed this in a speech read on her behalf by Ministry of Health Assistant Director Cancer Prevention, Dr. Sharon Kapambwe, during Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to a press statement issued by the Zambia Embassy, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mrs. Lungu said this has been demonstrated through strong political leadership and commitment for the national response as demonstrated by the engagement and participation of different political and community leaders, including President Edgar Lungu.
The First lady cited the establishment of the national HIV Prevention Coalition which is being co-chaired by the Ministers of Health and Finance as an effort meant to eliminate the disease.
Mrs. Lungu also said the Government of Zambia, through the Ministry of Health (MoH) with its cooperating partners, had made remarkable progress in addressing Mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT).
The First lady further sated the government was committed and had embarked on the process of Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission – EMTCT - of HIV and syphilis in its continued effort to improve health outcomes for mothers and children.
She said the EMTCT of HIV and syphilis National Operational Plan provided guidance for rapid scale up of strategic interventions towards dual EMTCT of HIV and syphilis in the country.
Mrs. Lungu reaffirmed the Zambian Government’s commitment to the core values and principles of the United Nations and the Sustainable Development Goals.
-0- PANA MM/VAO 11Feb2020
