About 130,294 on HIV/AIDS treatment have recorded zero suppression in Southern province.

This is out of the 155, 562 people living with HIV/AIDS treatment.

 Provincial Minister Credo Nanjuwa attributes this success to the government’s steady supply of anti-retroviral drugs to all health centres throughout the province.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Southern Province Permanent Secretary Namani Monze during the world Aids day commemorations in Monze, under the theme: “taking the rights ways.” 

 “This is an important development in the HIV/AIDS elimination agenda because once virally suppressed, our people living with the virus have reduced chances of passing it on to their uninfected partners hence reducing infections,” says Mr Nanjuwa. 

Despite the highlighted achievements, Mr Nanjuwa pointed out that discrimination and stigma of people living with HIV result in inequitable service delivery.

 ” Unless stigma and discrimination is fully address, the policy of universal health coverage and leaving now one behind will remain a mere pipedream,” said Mr Nanjuwa.

He stated that adolescent, young people, women, persons with disability and sex workers are some of the affected.

Speaking earlier Monze District Health Director Dr. Gocho Kapoba said 19,449 people are currently on HIV treatment.

Dr Kapoba said that the overall infections have reduced from 1,470 in 2023 to 1,016 in 2024.

He said 169 HIV/AIDS related deaths was recorded from January 2024 to date in the District.

And Chief Choongo of the Tonga people in Monze District has made a passionate appeal to the young people  to take the fight against HIV and AIDS seriously.

He said this is because they are the most ineffected with this virus adding that they were also born during the period when this disease broke out.

Meanwhile Sacred heart Assistant Parish Priest Harrison Themba challenged fellow clergymen not to stop people from taking ARVs in the name of miracles.

Fr Harrison urged the clergymen to ensure they encourage people living with HIV to continue taking ARVs as they seek divine healing which is a preserve of God.