By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Chingola Director of Health Davis Mwewa says the district has 19,801 people are on antiretroviral treatment while the HIV prevalence rate still remains at seven per cent.
DrMwewa said of the 19, 801 people, 794 are children below the age of 15 years and 19, 007 are above 15.
Dr Mwewa said the district has made a number of stride to fight the ailment and reduce the number of HIV/AIDS prevalence.
He said before 2000 there was a challenge on the availability of medication but with effort by the government medication is readily available.
Dr Mwewa said the availability of the treatment has helped in meeting of the 95/95/95 strategic target of the United Nations in 2019.
“This Strategy entails that 95% of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status, 95% of people who know their status on treatment and 95% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads,” he said.
Chingola Mayor Titus Tembo called for doubling of effort to reduce the figures.
Mr Tembo said that Chingola is a transit town to the border and with current developments the risks of increased HIV transmission is high.
He said that the commitment of the prevention efforts must be strengthened in line with this year’s theme ‘Communities making a difference-pressing towards ending AIDS’.
The Mayor has called on the media to help in publicizing the communities making a difference.
He said government will support and ensure that there is an enabling environment to carry out the programmes.
