LUSAKA – The United States govern

ment, through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), today announced $367 million (9.2 billion Kwacha) of new support toward Zambia’s national HIV response over the next year.  PEPFAR’s two-year Country Operational Plan (COP) was developed in April 2023, and this year, a midterm review was conducted to evaluate the plan and adjust it based on HIV program results.

This collaborative process involved multiple ministries within the Zambian government along with Global Fund, UNAIDS, the World Health Organization, Zambian civil society organizations, and other stakeholders and demonstrates the collective commitment of all partners to transparency and accountability as we work together to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030 for Zambians of every age, geographical  location, and social group.

A partner in the Zambian national HIV response since 2004, the United States supports government, local, and international partners to implement community and facility-based programs that expand access to HIV treatment, prevention, and care with a focus on groups that have not reached HIV epidemic control.  These include pediatrics, adolescents, young people, and people from key populations.   This funding amount will bring the U.S. government’s total commitment to Zambia’s national HIV response to more than $6.7 billion (over 167 billion Kwacha) over the past 20 years, demonstrating the dedication of the American people to a strong, healthy, and prosperous Zambia.  Thanks to this funding, more than 1.2 million Zambians are currently receiving free life-saving HIV treatment, annual HIV-related deaths have been cut in half, and over 86 percent of HIV-positive Zambians have undetectable virus levels meaning they cannot further transmit the HIV virus.