In its unwavering and untiring desire to meet Sustainable Goals(SDGs) target three(3)  and universal health care, Circle of Hope has continued setting up  , Community Posts country wide, with the latest being  at Mandevu Market in Lusaka.

According to SDG goal three, no one should left be out  in the treatment of HIV and AIDS.

The launch of the community post has thrilled both HIV infected and affected residents of Mandevu Constituency who have endured erratic health services.

Anthony Mwansa, a 56- year-old Mandevu resident, living with HIV was full of praise for Circle of Hope  for setting up a community in his area.

He said the establishment of the community post in Mandevu Compound will lessen the burden of transport cost, saying in his case, he was  getting  antiretroviral treatment in Makeni township which is kilometers away from Mandevu where he resides.

“Tuletasha ba Circle of Hope pakutuletela Community Post kuno ku Mandevu. Ndesubila abengi ba kapimwa no kubabika pamuti. Kwati ine, posa over K50 pakutila fika kuntu poka umuti ku Makeni,” he said.

 ln his native Bemba  loosely translated as (We, are thankful to Circle  of Hope for opening up a community post in Mandevu Compound. I believe many people will get tested and placed on medication. In my case, i spend K50 for transport to get where I access my treatment.)

And Esther Katanga who disclosed that she was gang rapped and infected with HIV said other NGOs involved in the fight against AIDS should emulate Circle of Hope which is walking the talk.

“We are aware that there are many NGOs that have mushroomed to fight the pandemic but Circle of Hope is exceptional. While other NGOs are busy holding HIV and AIDS workshops  at Intercontinental Hotel, Circle of Hope is on the ground, setting up community posts in variuos places. These community posts are life savers. They (Circle of Hope) have to be commended by the affected and infected because the job their doing for the Zambian community is very big,” she said.

The colourful event was attended by people of different age groups who now  feel secure that  HIV and AIDS treatment  are closer to them.

The event was spiced by dancers by the drama group, making the arriving US Ambassador Daniel Foote to go wild and join in the Kalindula music dance.

The jovial Ambassador Foote is happy that Circle of Hope is fighting HIV and AIDS stigma by opening up community posts in unsuspecting destinations.

“Stigmatising  against ,people living with HIV and AIDS is very evil. Why should you discriminate against people who get HIV because of falling in love?” he asked, adding:” Most of the people living with HIV and AIDS where born with it, so why should you crucify them for getting the virus from their parents?”

He urged Zambians to0 get tested and know their HIV status.

“I went for HIV test twice but the results are none of your business,” he said.

 Ambassador Foote said reduced HIV affection rates would directly lift the burden on America which is spending huge sums of money in the fight against pandemic.

Speaking during the event, Circle of Hope Executive Director Gibstar Makangila thanked PEPFAR through the American Government for pumping in an access of USD 4 billion since the fight against the pandemic kick started in Zambia.

“We would like to thank PEPFAR through you, your Excellency for the unmatched and precedented support for Zambia and Africa. For Zambia alone, since we began this fight against HIV, I am fully aware that PEPFAR through the ambassador’s office has been able to give us in access of USD 4bn from tax payer’s money. So, to you sir, we are very thankful on the ground,” Mr Makangila said.

He disclosed that currently, 1.2 million are accessing treatment and from that figure, 55 percent are female and 45 percent are male with 43,000 infections every year.

 He maintained  that it is disappointing that men are shunning HIV and AIDS treatment.

Mr Makangila, however, said the over 20  community posts established by Circle  of Hope will encourage men to get treatment.

“First and foremost, we wanted to overcome three barriers , barrier  number one, stigma among men. Men do not want to access treatment  until they are completely finished.  We thought that if we take these services where men live, work and socialize , they will be accessing these services without a cost. Secondly, because of the dire economic challenges people are going through, accessing transport cost to go to these services was proving to be difficult, so by bringing these services, we overcame the barrier of transport cost.

Last but not the least, the amount of time our citizens spend in health facilities has been too long, sometimes our citizens take  two hours, three hours, queuing up for medicines. Through this community post,  people in these areas are spending 15 minutes,

20 minutes maximum to finish all their services at the community post,” he said.

 Mr Makangila said since was  Circle of Hope formed  community posts, it has managed to replicate them to the rest of Zambia.

“We have community posts in Southern Province, Western Province and Luangwa District among other places. The good news is that this community post, (Ministry of Health PS) Dr Malama is your community post. Circle of Hope and CDC are your children and  extention of your hub. So, I would like to publicly thank the Ministry of Health for creating an enabling environment for partners like ourselves to work well,” said.

Mr Makangila said the community post has been extended internationally.

He said the model has been replicated in Nigeria and  it is currently being replicated in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Tanzania and it will soon extend its branches to Cameroon.