The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has awarded US$3.5 million additional funding to the Ministry of Health for rapid expansion of cervical cancer screening services for women living with HIV/AIDS.

And Minister of Health Dr Chitalu Chilufya says the additional funding would catalyse rapid expansion and integration of cervical cancer screening among Zambian living women with HIV/AIDS, who are already receiving Antiretroviral therapy services in high volume sites.

In a statement released by Ministry Head of Media Relations Stanslous Ngosa, Dr Chilufya also said that the Ministry of Health values immensely its partnership with PEPFAR to end AIDS and cervical cancer, saying the partnership would help in saving the lives of Zambian women from HIV and cervical cancer.

“The Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Health has been awarded additional funding amounting to US$ 3.5 million by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for rapid expansion of cervical cancer screening services, especially for women with HIV. The Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya said the Ministry is delighted with the additional funding because it will catalyse rapid expansion and integration of cervical cancer screening among women with HIV who are receiving Antiretroviral therapy services in high volume sites,” stated Ngosa.

“Dr. Chilufya has also welcomed the announcement by President George W. Bush on the new collaboration efforts that includes the George W. Bush Institute, PEPFAR and UNAIDS to move into the next phase of the public private partnership of developing a model, demonstrating a greater impact and reduction of deaths due to cervical cancer specifically in HIV positive women called the Partnership to End AIDS and Cervical Cancer. He says the Ministry immensely values the Partnership to End AIDS and Cervical Cancer because it will help in saving the lives of Zambian women from HIV and cervical cancer.”