LUSAKA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Zambia launched an HIV prevention roadmap to direct the nation's fight against the pandemic on Monday.
The 2025-2030 roadmap sets national targets and outlines strategic directions to reduce new HIV infections to 15,000 by 2030. It will also serve as a compass for accelerating, innovating, and sustaining targeted prevention efforts on the path to ending AIDS.
Minister of Health Elijah Muchima reaffirmed the government's commitment to reducing the HIV burden and improving national health.
"Ending AIDS is not only a health issue. It is a development and human rights imperative that requires the participation of every Zambian," he said during a ceremony held in Lusaka, the country's capital.
He stressed that the country must not lose momentum and called for a transformative approach to mitigate risks and accelerate the response.
Zambia has made significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, with new infections declining by 52 percent, from 63,000 in 2010 to about 30,000, while AIDS-related deaths have decreased by 40 percent, from 25,000 to about 15,000, according to the minister.
Muchima, however, expressed concern that young people aged 15 to 24 account for 38 percent of new infections, while adolescent girls and young women face more than three times the risk of their male peers.
He also called for strengthening youth-focused prevention and addressing gender and social inequalities through education, empowerment, and access to services.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Beatrice Mutali commended Zambia for being among the countries demonstrating strong commitment and determination in fighting HIV/AIDS.
She said this year's commemoration comes at a crucial time, as the world faces cuts to the health sector, with HIV services being among the hardest hit by these reductions. ■