Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe has said the status of Livingstone as the tourist capital of the nation makes it a high-risk area for HIV transmission.
Mr. Munkombwe attributed this development to tourism and other economic activities such as cross border trade, fish mongering and subsistence farming in rural communities.
He said this during the commemoration of the National Voluntary and Counseling Day (VCT), at Mukuni Park in Livingstone today, which was celebrated under the theme “Family first: Men take your families for Counseling and Testing.”
He bemoaned the high prevalence rate of HIV in Livingstone which he said is now at 30.6 indicating a slight reduction from the initial 31 percent.
Mr. Munkombwe challenged all stakeholders to take a leading role in the response to HIV and AIDS since many people did not know their status resulting in new infections taking place on a daily basis.
He encouraged people to go for VCT services as doing so would equip them with the knowledge to either protect them from infection or to live positively with HIV and get access to treatment when necessary.
The Provincial Minister said VCT day was an important day for the country as it continued to play an important role in helping government work towards achieving universal access to HIV treatment, care and support by the year 2010.
Mr. Munkombwe said it was commendable for government through President Rupiah Banda’s leadership to exhibit positive political will in the response to HIV and AIDS.
And speaking earlier, District Director of Health Dr Kenneth Chibwe said HIV and AIDS was not a thing to be proud of as it had destroyed people’s lives and careers, adding that this had resulted in reduced productivity and high poverty levels.
Dr. Chibwe called on men to take a leading role in fighting HIV since statistics indicated that more women were accessing VCT services than men despite them heading up households.
He urged people to use weapons such as abstinence, condoms, positive behavioral change, and mutual faithfulness to one partner, in the fight against HIV.
Dr. Chibwe said the fight against the deadly pandemic could be won if all stakeholders involved in the fight could remain unified in their intentions and purpose.
ZANIS
wow that’s very good pantu pa livingstone ama talibans(prostitutes) nimbwee!
I think ama guys nabacenjelako this time ngabaikasha amaule tabaleyamo ne pala(live) they are wearing head socks(condoms).Fair play guys!!
ati ama talibans.. mwali kwata ka lingo abena zambia! hahaha.. yeh good development but what does it add to the overall aids problem in Zambia? tapali !
Must be because some female workers have relocated their “special businesses” back to Zim, seeing that things are now slowly getting better there.
PS.: I’m ready for the bashing…bring it on bloggers.
PA LIVINGSTONE Palichilamofye….kwati ni competition nangu kwati ka last..if the records are very treu the good development but i stil dout
#4 LMAO. I remember being at a New years party in one of the USA cities and this girl who is originally from L/STONE was in a mini skirt and poping her booty and droping it like its hot and then one of the guys said to the other ” my dear ilya gelo tekwesha. Yafuma ku Livingstone. Aids yaku L/stone ikali pali yonse!
These Unitas, have left Livingstone for Lsk that is way there is a slight change in numbers.
The origin of AIDS and HIV has puzzled scientists ever since the illness first came to light in the early 1980s. For over twenty years it has been the subject of fierce debate and the cause of countless arguments, with everything from a promiscuous flight attendant to a suspect vaccine programme being blamed. So what is the truth? Just where did AIDS come from?
The oldest profession booms even in the global economic recession.
There has been an increase in the supply of elish at a cheaper price. e.g nyama soya so you cant now tell by looking.
No 8 i meant Relish
thats good….
sorry but you guys i dont see yo sense in saying that theres development from 31percent to 30.6..are u all crazy,infact if my grade 1math serves me correct 30.6 can be rounded off to 31..what we need is the govt to do more.take an example like uganda which was hit badly in the early 90s and now they dont even talk about aids in uganda…lets change the way we think and look at aids or zambia will ceize to exist in 20yrs to come..
THE PROBLEM IS THAT ZAMBIAN MEN WEAR THE CONDOM IN ADVANCE ATI JUST IN CASE THEY FORGET WHEN DRUNK.. AND THEY EXPECT IT TO PROTECT THEM
NOMINATION FOR THE BEST LT BLOGGERS
1. WALAI NTHWENU MPUTI BUSINESS
2. BREEZE
3.MATWORD (WAY TO GO MATWORLD)
4.ZEBIGE
5 MISS DAISY (ONLY COZ OF YO LOOKS)