VCT Day (2)

Lastly, here are a few extracts from the speech that I wrote for the District Commissioner to hopefully give a sense of why VCT is important:

“. . . Zambia is one of the countries most seriously ravaged by the effects of HIV and AIDS. The overall prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS in Zambia stands at 14.3% and Mazabuka District has not been spared from HIV and AIDS as the prevalence rate here is 19% . . . despite all of this the majority of people still do not know their HIV status . . . in fact only 15% of Zambians know their status. It is important to realise that 60% of HIV transmission takes place within marriages. Therefore, this is a generalized epidemic and HIV is not something that is only confined to high risk groups; it affects us all.”

“The theme for this year’s national VCT day is 'Know your HIV status and Access Care and Support.' If people go for VCT they will be equipped with the knowledge and power to either protect themselves from infection, or to live positively with HIV and AIDS and access care and treatment when it is needed. All of us here today and in our communities should get tested. We also encourage couples’ counselling and testing. It is important to remember that out of every 100 Zambians between the ages of 15 to 49, 86 remain uninfected. By going for VCT we can help to maintain this level.”