.BANDA

By DELPHINE ZULU –

RANKING Zambia as one of the top six countries globally in rapid reduction of new HIV infections is an indication that the nation is poised to win the fight within this generation, National AIDS Council (NAC) board chairperson Joshua Banda has said.
Bishop Banda said the global report on AIDS 2013 showing significant gains in national response had ranked Zambia as one of the top six to record rapid reduction in new HIV infections, especially in the
Prevention of Mother to Child (PMTC) related initiatives.
“While we still have concerns over high incidence levels among young people, we believe that we are on the verge of a complete turnaround and can get to zero new infections, Zero stigma, discrimination and zero HIV related deaths within this generation,” Bishop Banda said.
Meanwhile, Government has appointed former Ndola Central Hospital executive director Jabin Mulwanda as the new Director General at NAC.
Dr Mulwanda was unveiled at the Press briefing yesterday, with Bishop Banda saying his organisation was confident that Dr Mulwanda as new DG would consolidate and sustain the many gains recorded in the fight against HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
Dr Mulwanda takes over from Dr Clement Chela who was suspended and later removed in order to carry out independent inquiries into institutional operational areas requiring remedial measures.
“Prior to taking up his position at NAC, Dr Mulwanda served as regional head HIV and Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision at JHPIEGO by providing technical assistance to other eight African countries, as
well as providing to the development of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and successfully managed a pilot project which preceded the introduction of ART,” he said.
Bishop Banda said Dr Mulwanda had substantial managerial experience having been executive director in succession at Ndola and Kitwe central hospitals.
He said Dr Mulwanda’s experience would add impetus and momentum to existing HIV interventions being facilitated by a team of dedicated NAC secretariat staff across the country.
The NAC board chairperson advised the new director general to inspire his staff to continue delivering, encourage collective tasks for the good of many constituencies because motivated workers determined the success of an organisation and that his task would be to mobilise, motivate and direct their energies towards the goal of coordinating the national response.