IRIN/PlusNews that while there has been a marked decline of HIV in the
general population, some geographical areas and groups were showing an
alarming increase.
"Sex workers in both urban and rural Zambia are showing a prevalence
rate of as high as 65 percent, with some geographical areas like Matero
Township in Lusaka at 35 percent. This development may have an impact
on the future of the epidemic."
The 2008 Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) revealed that HIV
prevalence among the general population had dropped from 16 to 14
percent. It also revealed significant drops in prevalence in some parts
of Zambia, like Kalabo in Western Province. However, three out of nine
provinces showed a high HIV prevalence, though the cause of these new
infections has yet to be established.
The next stage, according to National AIDS Council (NAC) Research
Specialist Harold Witola, is to find out what is driving the epidemic
in areas where prevalence has risen.
Sex workers in both urban and rural Zambia are showing a prevalence rate of as high as 65 percent
"NAC is in the process of commissioning research to help us know why
HIV prevalence is increasing in the three provinces, which are
Southern, Luapula and Western. We also want to find out how female sex
workers are influencing the spread of the epidemic in these areas."
Witola said the research would also focus on how multiple concurrent
partners were contributing to new infections as well as prevalence
trends in new mining towns like Solwezi in North Western Province.
NAC Director of Prevention Dr Alex Simwanza said the recent findings
would be used to implement new interventions to cover identified gaps.
"The question we are now asking is, ‘What is causing the rise in these
areas?’"
Although HIV/AIDS activist Dr Mannessah Phiri welcomed the attempt by
the National AIDS Council to unravel the new statistics, he called for
urgent action to respond to the alarming HIV figures.
"It’s important for us to start developing localized interventions for
these hot spots and geographical areas," he said. "We need to do this
speedily. We have failed to come up with interventions that address the
needs of the housewife, for instance, who has now become more
vulnerable." – PlusNews