The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today the 27th of January 2017 donated 250 male and female condom dispensers in its continued quest to help the Zambian government to stem the tide of new HIV infections, a gesture lauded by the Ministry of Health as it will enhance community access to the sexual risk reducing commodity.
Making the donation at NAC head office, UNFPA Country Representative Dr Mary Otieno said condoms play a significant part in HIV prevention efforts within the larger comprehensive HIV Prevention programming in Zambia. The consignment of 250 condom dispensers cost US $ 37,500 bringing the total cost of dispensers so far donated to NAC to US $ 64,650 inclusive of 177 unit donated in 2016.
Dr Otieno indicated that Zambia is among the 10 countries in the world with the heaviest burden of AIDS and that the country needed to seize every opportunity to turn around the situation.
MoH Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Social Determinants Dr Wezi Kaonga said the ministry has its eyes focused on community based health services and advised NAC to ensure that the condom dispensers are distributed to communities with the largest need.
And NAC Acting Director General Mr John Mwale said although Zambia has made several strides and scored numerous successes in the AIDS response, the country’s annual HIV Prevalence rate of 46,000 was still unacceptably too high especially that the majority of those getting infected are young people aged between 15-24 years.
“Although the Zambia Population based HIV Impact Assessment (ZAMPHIA) report of 2016 shows a slight decline of the national HIV prevalence rate from 13.3 % to 11.6%, the annual rate of HIV infections is still unacceptably too high and makes a very strong case for a more evidence informed HIV prevention campaign,” Mr Mwale said.
Mr Mwale said effective condom programming and promotion is identified as one of the high impact interventions in the 2017-2021 National HIV and AIDS Strategic Framework (NASF) along with Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC), elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV, Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) and social behaviour change communication.
He assured MoH that the distribution of the condom dispensers would be based on HIV prevalence rates of recipient areas citing Western Province as one of those which would receive the highest number given the region’s recent surge from about 13 % to 16 % putting it at par with Lusaka at 16.1 %.
AHF Operations Manager Mr Hambweka Munkombwe pledged his organisation’s continued support in supplying condoms around the country.
Report compiled by the NAC Communications Unit.
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