From Treatment Success to Prevention Power: Zambia’s HIV Journey”

By Daily News Reporter

Zambia has made remarkable strides in its HIV response. Today, nearly 98% of people living with HIV know their status, and the majority are on treatment with suppressed viral loads. Clinics across the country echo with stories of resilience: mothers who once feared passing HIV to their children now celebrate healthy births, and young men proudly share their journeys of staying on antiretroviral therapy.

Zambia participated in an international World AIDS Day on 1^st December 2025 with a renewed call to action and a major step forward in HIV prevention, where the Ministry of Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Elijah J. Muchima, officially launched 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒓, a new long-acting injectable PrEP option that offers fresh hope for young people and vulnerable populations.

Speaking during the national commemoration, held under the global theme “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” Dr. Muchima reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

He noted that despite progress, the nation continues to face significant challenges, particularly among young people aged 15 to 24, who account for 38% of new infections.

However, the Minister emphasized that “AIDS is not over,” and the response must now be more resilient, innovative, and community driven.

This launch of lenacapavir marks a major milestone in expanding prevention options. “This new long-acting PrEP brings renewed hope,” Dr. Muchima said, adding that it will be rolled out alongside existing methods such as condoms, VMMC, and oral PrEP.

He also highlighted that Zambia’s commitment to integrating HIV efforts across education, social protection, and community development sectors, while calling on all stakeholders, development partners, civil society, the private sector, and young people to intensify prevention and accountability efforts.

“As a nation, we must turn disruption into an opportunity for transformation,” he said. “If we remain united, innovative, and focused, we can end AIDS as a public health threat and ensure that no Zambian is left behind.” He added.

In 2024 alone, Zambia recorded 30,000 new HIV infections, a rise from the previous year. Alarmingly, adolescents and young people aged 15–24 account for nearly 40% of these cases. For this generation, the epidemic is not history — it is a lived experience.

And According to the latest UNAIDS 2025 estimates, Zambia has reduced new HIV infections by 52% since 2010 and lowered AIDS-related deaths by 40%. The country has also surpassed the global 95-95-95 targets for adults, reaching 98-98-97.

And speaking to daily News reporter in Lusaka by the name of lukundo mwale (name withheld) of Chawama compound stated “We hear about HIV in school, but many of us don’t think it can happen to us. The Ending AIDS campaign is teaching us that prevention is power — through PrEP, condoms, and knowing our status.”

And a Healthcare worker shared her sentiment, “We need to meet young people where they are — in schools and in communities. Ending AIDS will only happen if prevention becomes part of everyday life.

Alice Mukanga (name withheld), who has worked in HIV care for over a decade, notes that while treatment success is high, prevention remains a challenge.

The Zambia Ending AIDS Campaign is designed to close these gaps. It combines testing, treatment adherence, and prevention tools like PrEP and voluntary medical male circumcision, while strengthening Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs, The campaign’s message is clear: Ending AIDS is not just a government goal — it is a shared responsibility.

With the HIV Prevention Roadmap 2025–2030, Zambia is sharpening its focus on youth-centered interventions, community engagement, and sustainable financing. The vision is bold but achievable: a Zambia where new HIV infections are rare, treatment is universal, and stigma is a relic of the past.

Dr. Paul Zulu, from Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) speaks to journalists during cross Border meeting online under the theme “HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS GLOBAL HEALTH”. With conviction that “Prevention is our cornerstone. If we can stop new infections, we can end AIDS.” His words capture the urgency of Zambia’s fight against HIV, where young people and high-risk populations remain most vulnerable.

And meanwhile Anna Miti, seasoned journalist and Chairperson of the Health Communicators Forum (HCF) Zimbabwe, is spearheading efforts to bring HIV back into the newsroom spotlight.

He added that journalists must reclaim their role as educators and watchdogs, ensuring communities remain informed and empowered. Also, journalists can challenge stigma, promote prevention.

She further stated that the media’s role is critical in shaping attitudes and encouraging action. HIV must return to the headlines, not as a relic of the past, but as a story of resilience, innovation.  (c) Copyright Reserved