Embassy of the United States

Ambassador Speeches

Remarks by Ambassador Martinez on the occasion of the official opening of the New Start Counselling and Testing Center in Chongwe District

It is an honor and pleasure for me today to participate in the opening of this New Start Counselling and Testing Center in Lusaka. And I look forward to travelling to Chongwe later this morning to witness the work of the new Mobile Counselling and Testing Units. Both of these initiatives are part of a major expansion of the New Start Center Network throughout Zambia which is giving thousands of Zambians the opportunity to know their HIV status.

The American people will be proud to learn they have funded this center through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). And I am very pleased that our Embassy is working in partnership with the German government to fund the New Start Centers. I also applaud the Government of Zambia’s commitment to fostering public-private partnerships in order to apply maximum resources to fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The U.S. Government will provide almost $150 million to Zambia this year on PEPFAR-funded programs aimed at preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, and improving the care and treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS. Over $12 million of these funds will support vital counselling and testing efforts, the first step in ensuring a healthier life.

Honorable Minister, the resources being provided by the American people to Zambia respond to your Government’s priorities, as outlined in the Zambia National HIV/AIDS Strategy. We are committed to supporting your strategy and will continue to work hard as the Government’s partner to ensure that every Zambian has the opportunity to access quality counselling and testing.

And that is why we are all here today. To encourage people to take that giant step, to know their status so they can take positive action for their future. The expansion of counselling and testing, and especially mobile services that come right to the people in communities where they live and work, will have a huge impact. I believe we are now entering a new era in counselling and testing.


I would also like to encourage all Zambian leaders, whether they are leaders in government, civil society, or religious institutions, traditional leaders, or entertainers and cultural leaders, to set an example for ordinary citizens by getting tested for HIV. I applaud the Honorable Minister of Health, Ms. Masebo, who I know is going to be counselled and tested in Chongwe this morning. She is exercising true leadership and I challenge all other Zambian leaders to have the courage to do the same.

Counselling and testing is an entryway into many other services. The counselling room is a place where individuals can hear advice about a variety of health issues related to HIV. Voluntary counselling and testing can help clients make informed decisions about marriage, pregnancy and sexual relationships.

The American people care deeply that too many people around the world, and particularly in Africa, are dying of a disease which can be prevented and can now be treated. The U.S. government, through PEPFAR funding, has helped the Zambian government place almost 50,000 people on ARV treatment. But people can’t access ARVs until they have had counselling and testing. While the number of people tested rose from 11% tested in 2001 to 13% in 2005, there are still far too few people being tested in a country where we know the prevalence of HIV is very high.

The 2001 Demographic and Health Survey found that almost two-thirds of the women and men who had never been tested said they wanted to be. Clearly one of the reasons has been a lack of access to VCT services. We need to continue to work to fill that gap so people who want to be tested have that opportunity.

In 2005 we achieved some very impressive results in counselling and testing. The U.S. Government supported 296 service centers throughout the country, at which more than 68,000 people received counselling and testing. Through our PEPFAR programs, over 1400 people have been trained as HIV counsellors.

We all look forward to a time when people will no longer fear going for counselling and testing because of stigma or discrimination. It will indeed be a great day in Zambia, when every adult will not shy away from knowing his or her HIV status! Let’s all work together to make that day a reality now.

Thank you.