By MARTIN MUSUNKA –

THE traditional leadership of North Western Province is saddened that AIDS prevalence in the province has increased from 6.9 per cent to 7.2 per cent.
The leaders said new cases of the disease are being driven by factors of migration of labour and mobility, multiple concurrent partnerships, commercial sex work and archaic cultural practices.
On behalf of the chiefs, Chief Mumena of the Kaonde people, warned that the fight against HIV/AIDS would be lost if there was no serious reflection and action to address what was driving the new infections.
He said the figures were of growing concern in that while the provincial indicators were on an upswing, national trends reflected a downswing in percentages from 14.3 per cent to 13.3 per cent.
“This is a red flag that we are likely to lose the fight, as a province, if we do not seriously reflect and put in place action and address what is driving the new infections,” he said.
Chief Mumena who is the provincial AIDS taskforce chairperson, was speaking at this year’s commemoration of the International Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Day in Solwezi.
The traditional leaders also hailed efforts by mining companies such as First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and Barrick Lumwana Mine for spearheading HIV/AIDS preventive programmes.
He called on the province to secure resources to ensure the fight against the disease was sustained and prevalence rates reduced.
“As your chair, believe with me that AIDS is going to lose because we have the dreams, the will and we will create synergies for empowering our people and communities while resolving to work together as a team,” he said.
He emphasised the need on keeping alive the 90 per cent of knowing one’s status, 90 per cent of access to treatment and 90 per cent sustenance of viral suppression.
North-Western Province permanent secretary Amos Malupenga implored Chief Mumena to take a lead-role in ensuring that the HIV prevalence rate was reduced.
Mr Malupenga said on behalf of Provincial Minister Dawson Kafwaya, it was not inspiring that the national prevalence statistics were reducing while those for the province were on the rise.
He called for concerted efforts to address the effects that were leading to the negative trend.
He said VCT Day reminded the country that there were many reasons for concern as there were for celebration as fewer people were dying from AIDS-related deaths as more had been placed on life-prolonging treatment.
Kalumbila Minerals Trident Foundation manager Garth Lappeman said the mining company had intensified health awareness campaigns in communities surrounding the mines such as Chovwe, Kankhozhi, Musele, Wanyima and Kisasa.
He said in a speech read for him by FQM projects and programmes advisor Gertrude Musunka, that FQM took the health of the community seriously as it contributed to a thriving and vibrant community that enables development for all. SUMA SYSTEMS