U.S. Embassy
Avenida Kenneth Kaunda, 193
Caixa Postal, 783
Maputo
MOZAMBIQUE
PRESS RELEASE
U.S. and Mozambican governments accelerate response to HIV in Zambezia province
September, 13, 2017 – Mozambique and the United States of America today officially launched the “Zambezia HIV Response Acceleration Plan,” which will include an investment of US$ 15 million to strengthen the province’s health infrastructure.
Health Minister, Nazira Abdula, the Governor of Zambezia province, Abdul Razak, and the U.S. Ambassador, Dean Pittman, attended a protocol ceremony and community event celebrating the launch of the program, which will help individuals and families affected by HIV to access high-quality health services for the prevention and treatment of the disease.
Developed jointly by the Ministry of Health, the Zambezia Provincial Health Directorate and the implementation team of the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Mozambique, the initiative responds to the current epidemiological situation in the province, which has the largest number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) across the country, but the lower coverage of patients being treated.
Recent data from the Ministry of Health show that currently, in every 10 PLHIV, only four are receiving antiretroviral therapy in the province, and the plan is expected to increase to seven within two years. Improved patients in treatment retention indicators will also be a priority to be observed, in view of the province’s positioning on UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets by the year 2020.
The Zambezia acceleration program is part of the joint annual plan of the U.S. and Mozambican governments funded through PEPFAR, which will have a budget of around US$ 400 million in 2018.
In the case of Zambezia province and associated with the acceleration program, a budget of US$ 15 million will be directed towards the improvement of the health infrastructures network, with the construction of three new drug stores and medical goods, and the installation of about 90 prefabricated for consulting rooms, pharmacies and laboratories.
Since its launch in Mozambique in 2004, PEPFAR’s investments in Mozambique have totaled US$ 3 billion, with the main results being health care improvement provided in the country, and exponential increase in the number of people that access HIV prevention and treatment services.
In Mozambique, PEPFAR is implemented by the U.S. Embassy through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Peace Corps.
For more information about this press release, please contact the U.S. Embassy Maputo Press Office at MaputoPress@state.gov.
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