On 1st December 2022 millions of people around the world celebrated world AIDS day to raise awareness of the ongoing HIV pandemic and remember those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. Zambia has one of the highest HIV rates in the world with approximately 1.5 million people currently living with HIV/AIDS. According to U.S. Mission Zambia,“89 percent of Zambian adults aged 15 years and older living with HIV are aware of their status, 98 percent of those who are aware of their status are on treatment, and 96 percent of those on treatment are virally suppressed. However, the HIV rate in Zambia is increasing due to inequalities and gaps that still remain. Women are far more likely to have HIV than men – young women (ages 15-24) are three times as likely to get HIV than their male peers. Various factors such as gender inequality, cultural barriers, low education rates, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, low socioeconomic status, gender-based violence and more greatly contribute to rising rates.
Copper Rose Zambia attended the exciting world AIDS day at Mulungushi International Conference Center where they marched, listened to inspiring speakers, and exhibited their HIV prevention and SRHR efforts. Honorary speakers such as Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo, UN Resident Coordinator Beatrice Munthali, Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima, Director General National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council Dr. Connie Osborne, and more shared their remarks regarding their commitment to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 and described the promising progress that has already been made. American Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales was one of the honorary speakers at World AIDS Day and said, “We must close the gaps in prevention and treatment services for sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, persons who inject drugs, and prisoners and others incarcerated people. Far too many adolescents and young people are becoming infected with HIV because they do not have access to prevention services or, when they go, they face stigma and discrimination (U.S. Mission Zambia).”
Zambia has made tremendous progress in the fight against HIV and is on track to eradicate the disease by 2030 if we keep testing, treating and preventing cases. Copper Rose Zambia is dedicated to increasing HIV prevention activities and educational programs for youths and adolescents in order to stop the spread of HIV. This year, Copper Rose Zambia has reached out to over 10,000 young people and adolescents in HIV prevention and plans to reach out to even more in the upcoming years.
