KASEMPA Town Council has urged members of staff to routinely get tested for HIV/AIDS to prevent new infections.

Town Council Secretary Liyungu Mungandi implored the workforce in the district to know their HIV status in order to reduce the transmission rate.

Mrs Mungandi said this during the orientation meeting on HIV self-testing in Kasempa district today.

“We get exposed to so many things everyday including HIV/AIDS some of us are exposed to this during the course of our careers,” she added.

Mrs Mungandi disclosed that routine self-testing will enable the country to attain a healthier nation which is a prerequisite for productivity.

“We all need to remember that a healthy population is a productive population, the government of Zambia is emphasising a lot of hard work,” she added.

Mrs Mungandi further disclosed that as the country was transitioning to a 24-hour economy and hence the need for a healthy nation.

“We are transitioning into what is called a 24/7 kind of economy with this we cannot afford to have ill-health as a nation,” she added.

Mrs Mungandi said the initiative to train civil servants on routine self-testing is to equip officers with knowledge to intensify HIV prevention.