Authorities in Mongu in Western Province say about 11,000 adults and  more than 600 children are currently receiving Anti-Retroviral (ARV)  drugs in the district.
Mongu District Commissioner Susiku Kamona said a total of 10,986  adults and 617 children have been enrolled for Anti-Retroviral Therapy  (ART).
Mr Kamona said this when he officiated at a Mongu District Health Planning  meeting for the 2016-2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) over the weekend.
He also revealed that Mongu District health office had increased  malaria coverage through vector control measures.
This is being done through either long-lasting insecticide-treated  mosquito nets or indoor residual spraying in a bid to reduce malaria deaths  to near zero and achieve a malaria-free Mongu District and Zambia by  2020.
The Government was committed to increase the drug budget every year as well as strengthen the health systems through the implementation of  the Essential Medical Logistics Improvement Programme (EMLIP).
“In this regard, the Ministry of Health has opened a Medical Stores  Limited hub in Mongu to completely mitigate stock out status of  essential medicines and medical supplies,” he said.
The Mongu District health sector focus for 2016 among others was to  complete the construction works of Mongu District Hospital and four  health posts in the district while rehabilitating others.
At the same event, Mongu district medical officer Dr. Francis Liywalii  said the health centres in the district were facing a lot of  challenges due to inadequate funding. ZANIS