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Low VCT take-up worrying

    JOHANNESBURG

    Zambian National AIDS Council (NAC) director Dr Alex Simwanza has expressed concern over the poor take-up of HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT).

    Simwanza told the local Post newspaper that the testing uptake ahead of 'VCT National Day' on Friday was "unacceptably low".

    Given the HIV prevalence rate - an estimated 16 percent - it was vital that more people made an effort to know their status.

    "There are a lot of benefits in knowing one's status," Simwanza stressed. "If one is positive they will get the support, the medicine, and they will be able to look after themselves properly. If one is negative, they will be able to maintain their negative status."

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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