Government Offers Support as UNAIDS Scales Down Local Operations

Health minister Dr Elijah Muchima says the government has offered support to the UNAIDS office in the country, following the agency’s announcement that it will reduce its operations due to global funding cuts.

Speaking after the meeting with UNAIDS Regional Director Anne Shongwe during the 75th WHO Regional Committee for Africa, Dr Muchima confirmed that while the UNAIDS presence in Zambia will be scaled back, the office will not shut down entirely.

“UNAIDS is not closing in Zambia - they are only reducing staff because of reduced funding has been from the United States, and with cuts in American aid, they have had to adjust.”

UNAIDS has already closed its Malawi office while Zambia’s will remain open but operate with fewer personnel. The regional hub will continue to be based in Zimbabwe.

Dr Muchima sees the change as an opportunity to become more self-reliant in its national HIV response. “This is a change for us to move towards sustainability. As President Hichilema says, where there’s a challenge, there’s also opportunity.”

He added that the government is looking into providing support in areas such as office space or operational needs to ensure UNAIDS continues to have a footprint in the country.