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More than 800 Zambians are currently receiving the long-acting injectable prep since its introduction in the country, authorities say.
Health Minister, Sylvia Masebo, said government had introduced injectable long acting ARVS for prevention of HIV (Prep) for HIV negative people at high risk of acquiring HIV.
Speaking at the World Health Day Commemorations in Lusaka on Monday, Masebo stated that Zambia had made tremendous progress in the HIV/AIDS response.
“The National Response Programme started in 2003 with a target of reaching 90-90-90 by 2020, which has been surpassed and stands 95-95-95 targets,” she said.
Masebo stated that 89 percent of the people living with HIV know their status, 98 percent of them had been initiated on life saving ARVS and 96 percent had their viral load suppressed.
She added that government was strengthening all health programs by increasing awareness of the importance of every person’s need and right to be protected from preventable diseases.
“Through the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA), government is slowly making it possible for the less privileged in communities, to access quality health care,” Masebo said.
On health care financing, the Minister stated that government had been consistently releasing operational grants to the Ministry in order to ensure delivery of quality health services.
She said government had also made meaningful progress towards attainment of the Abuja declaration that prescribes 15 percent of the National Budget towards health care financing.
Masebo observed that 12 percent of the 2024 national budget was allocated to the health sector indicating an increase from about 8 percent in 2021.
“Government is committed to eradicating cholera in the country through multisectoral approach including upgrading of communities, providing clean and safe water,” she assured.
On maternal and reproductive health, the Minister said government had put in place interventions to reduce maternal mortality such as having maternity annexes at all health facilities.
Masebo said government had established the Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) to help the Ministry monitor the progress.
“The Ministry of Health is increasingly providing specialised health care services such as heart surgery at the National Heart Hospital,” she added.
The minister said Kidney transplants had also been locally conducted with support from a surgical team from India as part of the capacity building strategy in the local team of surgeons.
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