Government urges the Private Sector to assist sustain HIV Gains

Government has urged the private sector to support Zambia’s fight against HIV through collective action, workplace policies, and public education initiatives. This was contained in the speech read by Professor. Lackson Kasonka, Permanent Secretary in charge of Special Duties on behalf of Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga MP during a Chief Executives Officers HIV and AIDS Breakfast Sensitisation Meeting held in Lusaka at the Taj Pamodzi hotel. The meeting brought together representatives from UNAIDS, civil society, and private enterprises to discuss strategies for education, prevention, and workplace programs. Professor. Kasonka highlighted Zambia’s ongoing HIV challenges, noting that approximately 1.4 million people are living with HIV. He emphasized that government continues to provide resources while encouraging corporate partners to adopt workplace HIV policies.

At the same event, the National AIDS Council Director General Dr Kebby Musokotwane called on the private sector to sustain the gains made in the HIV response as foreign aid continues to decline. Speaking at a high-level dialogue in Lusaka, Dr Musokotwane warned that cuts in external funding put decades of progress at risk. He stressed that a healthy workforce is critical for business productivity. He urged companies to integrate HIV prevention, testing, and treatment into workplace wellness programs and corporate social investment

The Public Private Dialogue Forum (PPDF) called on private sector leaders to increase their contribution to Zambia’s HIV response, warning that overreliance on external donors threatens sustainability. PPDF Director General Mr Andrew Chipwende highlighted that private sector engagement is critical for improving community health. He noted that companies currently reach over 10,000 clients through workplace programs that also support surrounding communities. Additionally, Mr Chipwende emphasized the need to digitize HIV programs.

Ms Jacqueline Chishimba, Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships at PPDF, noted that while the private sector contributes over 80% of Zambia’s GDP and employs 88% of the workforce, its direct support for HIV programs remains below 7%. She emphasized the importance of integrating HIV services into workplace wellness, expanding insurance coverage to include HIV care, allocating at least 1% of CSR budgets to HIV programs, and scaling up local production of HIV commodities.

UNAIDS Country Director Isaac Ahemesah stressed the importance of public-private collaboration in ensuring universal access to medicines and treatment. He highlighted that President Hakainde Hichilema established the PPDF to ensure private sector input informs policy decisions. Mr. Ahemesah further underscored the importance a Health Technical Working Group under PPDF whose mandate was to identify health system gaps and develop joint solutions with government has being key to the HIV response.