- Stay Connected
Socialize
We Don’t Want To Encourage Willful Transmission Of HIV – Dr Chilufya
The ministry of Health says even though Zambia does not encourage willful transmission of HIV, the country has not reached a stage of discussing a law to criminalise willful transmission of the virus.
Ugandan lawmakers last Tuesday passed a bill criminalising the ‘willful and intentional’ transmission of HIV.
Commenting on this development in Uganda, health deputy minister, Dr Chitalu Chilufya, said Zambia did not encourage willful transmission of HIV from one person to another.
“As a country, we have not reached a stage where we are discussing a law that would criminalise willful transmission of HIV. There are many aspects to look at. What one would say generally is that as a government, we do not want to encourage willful transmission of HIV,” Dr Chilufya said.
Asked whether introducing a law that criminalises willful HIV transmission would help reduce Zambia’s rising infection rate, Dr Chilufya said, “I wouldn’t be the right one to comment on that. But the position as a country remains that willful transmission of HIV is not something we encourage. For now, we are not discussing any law. One thing we know is that we do not want willful transmission of HIV.”
Asked whether it was a good law, Dr Chilufya said he was not qualified to comment on how good or bad a law was for another country.
He said Zambia’s policy promoted safe sexual practices that limited transmission of HIV from one person to another.
Dr Chilufya said Zambia had made strides to reduce new HIV infections.
He said even though much had been done, a lot more could be done.
“As a country, we have prioritised Prevention of Mother to child Transmission (PMTCT) by going option B plus where all our HIV positive pregnant women will be put on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) regardless of CD4 count so that the number of children born with HIV is reduced. For children who are already infected, we are ensuring that they are put on ART,” said Dr Chilufya.
Ugandan parliamentarian, Peter Aleper, told local television last week that people who knowingly transmit HIV were dangerous to others.
“Every punishment should be given because this person is aware that he or she is infected, and goes ahead intentionally to transmit to another person,” Aleper said. “That’s a very dangerous person, that can easily confuse the whole community and finish people.”
But health workers and civil society groups have spoken out against the bill, saying it will do nothing to curb Ugandan’s rising infection rate.
Many argue the bill will further stigmatise people who are HIV positive.
Posted by
Muyenga
May 19, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Kabalagala:- is the hub of prostitution in Kampala.
Muyenga
May 19, 2014 at 10:42 pm
ask any Baganda what is kachabali??
Zambian men can learn a thing or two
Bala Ng`ombe
May 20, 2014 at 6:08 am
@Muyenga, since you know the answer tell us kaili. I would understand if this was rocket science or sorcery but “kachabali”? Stop it iwe!
Justine Sipho Chitengi (Advocate)
May 20, 2014 at 9:19 am
The Anti-Gender Based Violence law, Act no. 1 of 2011 already makes it an offence (sexual abuse offence) if one knows that they are HIV+ and decided to have sexual interaction with another person without disclosing so to that other person. Whether the virus is actually transmitted or not is immaterial, at law, in Zambia. All that the law is condemning is the intentional non-disclosure of one’s prior knowledge of their HIV+ status to their sexual partner at/or before the time of the sexual act.
Mumus
May 20, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Please go ahead minister there is a guy in Kafue I know called Chewe Sampa works for Kafue Ginnery he has finished women in Kafue please cab him its too much spreading this disease he should be controlled. Frustrated Kafue lady.
kaya
May 22, 2014 at 9:42 am
@mumus i agree with you i also know of poutry farmer from makeni who is spreading his virus to alot of women around lsk. plz cab him down, warning to all the lady in lsk, he is monster!!!
Agony
May 22, 2014 at 6:11 pm
i know aleast 8 HIV + prostitutes who go out every single night to spread the disease to at least 4 clients each every day!!