Zambia set to benefit from $390 million US aid in support of fight against HIV/AIDS

Zambia is set to potentially receive US$390 million towards the fight against HIV/AIDS from the United States of America through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

This comes after PEPFAR reaffirmed its commitment towards accelerating Zambia’s goal to achieve eradicating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Health Permanent Secretary Luckson Kasonka said the support from PEPFAR included money which the United States U.S government would give to implementing partners, ARVs, HIV test kits, viral load testing among others.

Kasonka was speaking on the side-lines of the Country Operational Plan (COP23) Co-Planning Meeting in South Africa on Thursday that focused on reviewing the new PEPFAR strategic vision and engage in meaningful constructive dialogue.

He said COP23 planning meeting focused on the commitments, and plans for each country and what they will do.

With an adult HIV prevalence rate of 11 percent, Zambia receives significant support from PEPFAR which has had an investment of over US$ 6 billion since 2003.

“The COP23 planning meeting will look at the plans that had been put in place, to reflect and consider sustainability programmes for the future, in the event that the support towards funding and resources reduces.

“It was important that Zambia was represented at Country Operational Plan (COP23) Co-Planning Meeting to show government dimensions and commitment to supporting programs of treatment of people living with HIV, support programs of preventing new incidences of HIV and putting in measures that will use our own domestic resources,” Kasonka said.

He said the U.S government remained the biggest donor of the HIV related epidemic fight through PEPFAR and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Malaria and TB.

Kasonda said government reaffirmed the warm bilateral relations that existed between Zambia and the United States.

“With the understanding that no country can be self-reliant without a healthy population, PEPFAR works closely with the Government to strengthen the health system at national, provincial, district, and community levels,” he said.

He also said the U.S government had reduced the overall PEPFAR funding to Zambia to fight HIV and other related programs by three percent for the year 2023 and five percent for the year 2024.

He however urged Zambians not to panic on the reduction in funding as government had prioritised the health sector by increasing funding towards the overall health budget including HIV medicines and supplies.

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