THE Provincial Health Office in Southern Province has highlighted that Livingstone District has remained a hot-spot for new HIV infections among individuals in the age group of 15 to 19.
The Zambia Demographic Health Survey of 2018 places the HIV prevalence rate in Southern Province at 12.4%, with Livingstone having the highest figure in the country at 25.3% in the earlier mentioned age group.
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Southern Province Clinical Health Specialist in Choma District, Dr. Clive Banda, has however stated that intense interventions have been put in place to stop new infections.
He notes that as of April, 2023, the New Infection Positivity Yield for Livingstone has dropped to 3% from 7% in 2022.
Banda states that measures like Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision, Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (Prep), Treatment as prevention to reduce the viral load, as well as Condom distribution are in place.
He adds that being a transit town and a prime location for various events has contributed to Livingstone having a high rate of new infections.
And Livingstone District Health Director, Dr. Malungwe Kalaluka, has dismissed fears that the high rate of new HIV infections has been propelled by distribution of expired condoms, among other reasons.
She explains that all condoms distributed are classified as either Short Term or Long Term Expiry.
Kalaluka states that condoms with a short expiry period are distributed to places with fast-moving activity, while those with a longer shelf life are taken to slow-moving locations.
Medical Mentor from the Livingstone District Health Office, Dr. Prince Sakuhuka, says Social Networking Testing has helped in ensuring that potential HIV positive persons are identified.
Sakuhuka adds that Youth Adolescent Corners in Health Facilities are playing a huge role in reaching out to young people in accessing HIV services, further noting that the “Know your Child’s Status” Campaign has helped in working with parents.
Meanwhile, Network of Zambian People Living with HIV-NZP+ Livingstone Coordinator, Catherine Chibala, has bemoaned the high levels of stigma and discrimination towards HIV in the Tourist Capital.
She says such an attitude is counterattacking many progressive interventions from stakeholders.
The experts were speaking Wednesday afternoon during an online engagement with Journalists from the Livingstone Press Club.
The Webinar was hosted by Media Science Cafe-MESICA in Lusaka and focused on Livingstone City.
As of 2022, Livingstone has 21, 558 people on Antiretroviral Therapy-ART, and increase from the 21, 271 in 2021.
Latest 2022 Census figures places the population of Livingstone at 213,714.
Byta FM
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