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Salima observes World Aids Day

 

Salima District Council on December 30 2016 joined the international community in observing World Aids Day.

Speaking at the function held at Kambwiri Primary School in the area of Sub-Traditional Authority Bibi, Salima District Council chairperson, Shadreck Chiunjiza, who was also the guest of honour at the event, said the district has made remarkable strides in the fight against HIV and Aids.

Chiunjiza: We have made progress

According to Chiunjiza, the district has eradicated most cultural practices which were fuelling the spread of the virus in the district.

“In the past years, we registered disturbing statistics of young girls and women falling victim to cultural practices, which is no longer the case,” he said.

Salima Civil Society Network secretary Fletcher Simwaka urged the people to go for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT).

He further told the gathering that efforts in the fight against the pandemic would not be significant if the campaign does not involve sexual minority groups such as lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people who face challenges to freely access sexual and reproductive health services.

The event, which fell under the theme Getting to Zero New Infections Amongst Girls and Young Mothers, was also spiced up with a number of traditional dances, including Gule Wamkulu. n

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