Zambia’s HIV rate reduces

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Have you tested HIV Positive, AHF Zambia offers advice
Have you tested HIV Positive, AHF Zambia offers advice

Zambia has recorded a decline in the adult prevalence rate of HIV from 14.3 percent in 2007 to 13.3 percent.

This is according to the 2013 – 2014 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey results released in Lusaka.

The survey has also established that HIV testing among adults in Zambia has also improved.

78 percent of women have been tested for HIV, an increase from 35 percent in 2007 while among men, the percentage has increased from 20 percent to 60 percent.

Speaking during the release of the findings in Lusaka this morning, Central Statistical Office Director John Kalumbi says the country has also recorded marked improvements in mortality indicators.

Mr. Kalumbi says infant mortality has declined from 70 to 45 deaths per 1 thousand live births and under 5 mortality has declined from 1 hundred and 19 to 75 deaths per 1 thousand live births.

He has further disclosed the maternal mortality ratio is now 3 hundred and 98 deaths per 1 hundred thousand live births.

Mr. Kalumbi has attributed the drop in maternal mortality to a higher number of women giving birth in health facilities.

And officially launching the report, Health Minister Joseph Kasonde says government is proud of the impressive performance in health related indicators such as reduction in child mortality and maternal mortality.

Dr. Kasonde says the successes make government optimistic that with continued hard work, Millennium Development Goals-MDGs- target number 4 on reducing Child mortality and number 5 on reducing maternal mortality are clearly within reach.

A representative of the United States Government Ian Membe says the US government through PEPFAR provided 3 million dollars towards the exercise.

 

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