ZAMBIA: UN highlights importance of HIV/AIDS policy

The UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis, has bemoaned Zambia's lack of legislative policy on HIV/AIDS, The Times of Zambia, a local newspaper, reported on Tuesday.

At a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha, Lewis commended the country's treatment strategy, but said further efforts to address the spread of HIV might fail if the necessary policies were not implemented.

He also emphasised the need to enhance relations with other countries in the fight against the pandemic.

Zambia recently announced plans to increase the number of people currently on antiretroviral treatment from almost 18,000 to 100,000 by the end of 2005.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]