The Centre For Infectious Diseases Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), has continued supporting  the Government of Zambia through the Ministry of Health (MoH) towards achieving one of the targets under the United Nations (UN)  Strategic Development Goals (SDGs) number 3 – to  end HIV/AIDS by 2030.

CIDRZ this year joined MoH and other stakeholders  in commemorating the National HIV Testing Counselling and Treatment Day (HTCT) under the theme “Let’s Stop HIV Together #Get Tested Today!”.

Speaking during the commemoration held at Twashuka School Grounds in Kanyama, the Minister of Health – Hon. Sylvia Masebo, expressed concern on the high rate of new HIV infections in adolescents and young people aged between 15-24, with about 11,000 of new infections in adolescents’ girls and young women.

Ms Masebo congratulated CIDRZ for the commendable job and services being offered to the community through testing, counselling and treatment of HIV and their focus towards achieving the UNAIDS vision 95,95,95.

CIDRZ is supporting MoH through the implementation of different programmes aimed at providing quality and accessible health services  to  adolescent and young women with support from its funders through the USAID  Empowered Children and Adolescent (ECAP III) project, DREAMS under the USAID Controlling HIV Epidemic for Key and Underserved  Populations (CHEKUP) I project, and the ViiV Health Care funded – Preganant Parenting for Girls (P2G) program among others.

At the commemoration, CIDRZ showcased an array of services being rendered to the community through various projects. Among the services being offered was Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) – seven (7) Men were circumcised at the event ,with three (3) being circumcised  using the  Shang Ring and four (4) using  the Surgical method.