CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Felix Kunda, Zambia, October 1998
THEME = AIDS
The government is working with NGOs
to try to alleviate the AIDS situation.
But what does the future hold?
Addis Ababa Road has the reputation of being the most famous street in Lusaka. The road is popular for its lucrative trade. Customers do not bother to ask the name of the person they are dealing with. Unlike other businesses where trust is essential, for prostitution - the oldest "profession" in the world, no one cares about trust. The "right price" is the thing that matters. Currently it now stands at Kwacha 10,000 to Kwacha 15,000 "per round" and slightly above Kwacha 20,000 per night (Current Exchange is K1,700 per US dollar).
A sad picture, but it must be recognised that prostitution is a major cause of AIDS in Zambia, which is increasing every day - with drastic consequences on daily life. The existence of homosexuality and lesbianism are also contributory factors.
Dr. Moses Sichone is the manager of the National AIDS/STD, TB and Leprosy Control Programme. He says that one in four adults in urban areas in Zambia, is infected with the AIDS virus. The situation is the same in many rural areas. By 1997, about 45,000 AIDS and AIDS-related cases had been reported to the Ministry of Health since the beginning of the epidemic in Zambia. The figure is low because most cases are not reported. Dr. Sichone continues: "There are a number of reasons why the cases are not reported. Physicians may not want to record a diagnosis of AIDS because of the stigma attached to it. There are other reasons: Most rural hospitals and district health facilities do not have the capacity to test for HIV infection."
Dr.Sichone said that by 1997, an estimated 1.2 million people had been infected with the HIV virus in Zambia (population: 9 million). "This included about 950,000 adults and 70,000 children. However, in only 10% of these, had HIV actually developed into AIDS".
The HIV adult prevalence by province is as follows: Lusaka Province - 26.5%; Copperbelt - 23.4%; Luapula - 22.8%; Central Province - 20.8%; Northern Province - 18.9%; Western - 17.5%; Eastern - 14.7%; Southern - 16.8%; North-Western - 11%.
Dr.Sichone said about 84% of AIDS cases are found among adults between the ages of 20-49. "Since this is the most economical productive segment of the population, deaths in this group constitute a major economic burden. Many productive years and much investment in education and training will be lost." He said the peak ages in Zambia for AIDS cases are 20-29 for females and 30-39 for males. Young women in the 15-19 age groups are five times as likely to be infected as males in the same age group.
On the projection of HIV/AIDS in Zambia, the Health Minister, Professor Nkandu Luo, said that if the 1997 HIV adult prevalence of 19.9% stays near that level until the year 2000 and then drops gradually to 16% by the year 2010, the number of HIV infected persons in the population would peak at about 1.1 million person and stay at that level through 2010. "The number of new AIDS cases developing each year from among those persons living with the HIV infection, would rise to 106,000 in 2000 and on to 119,000 or an average of more than 300 a day," she said. She added that Zambia is likely to witness 1.8 million deaths from HIV/AIDS by the year 2010. Professor Luo said that because of the deaths, Zambia will have a major problem concerning orphans by the year 2000. There could be more than 1 million by the year 2010.
This gloomy picture has put the government of Zambia on its toes. In 1986, the government established a National AIDS Surveillance Committee and an Intersectoral AIDS Health Education Commission, to coordinate all activities for AIDS prevention and control. Later, in 1987, the coordinating team implemented a short-term plan to ensure a safe blood supply, and established 33 blood screening centres around the country.
The same year, with the help of the World Health Organisation, the government developed the first medium-term plan dealing with AIDS- related issues. The plan focused on the reduction of the impact of AIDS on the economy, including preparation of a comprehensive human resources development plan.
The government is currently working with non-governmental organisations (NGO)s in trying to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. One such organisation is the Society for Family Health, which is currently promoting the use of condoms.
Mpundu Mwanza is a specialist with the Society for Family Health Media and Public Affairs. She says that over 20 million condoms were marketed in 1997. It's clear the public response has been overwhelming, and people have accepted the condom as a preventive measure for HIV/AIDS, and also as a family planning method. She says the Society for Family Health has put up posters, bill boards and other campaign material, to promote the use of condoms. Also, her organisation has organised a number of promotion activities including competitions in schools and public places.
Another organisation which has worked very well in Zambia is the Network of Zambia People Living with HIV/AIDS (NZP). The organisation has gone all out to educate the people and offer counselling services to those with the virus. NZP coordinator, David Chipanta, says his organisation has organised concerts in all the nine provinces in Zambia. Here they speak about HIV/AIDS to the people. They also offer financial support to those diagnosed as HIV-positive, to help them meet medical costs.
Mr.Chipata was among the first people to publicly announce his HIV- positive condition. He says the NZP provides appropriate medication whenever necessary, and advises those with HIV/AIDS about what kind of food they should be eating in order to retain their strength. The NZP translates and prints books in seven vernacular languages, recommending the best local food to be taken and how it should be prepared.
Mr.Chipata stresses that most HIV/AIDS patients die from hunger before the disease catches up with them. These patients need special care and a special diet if they are to live longer. He regrets there is no care service available for them and it is difficult for them to survive for long periods after being diagnosed.
Zambia is rated among the world's poorest countries. The average salary fails to keep up with inflation (presently 18.5%) and the ever-increasing cost of living. The danger is, that looking after the extended family, especially family members in need, could become a thing of the past. So what happens? Those with no resources end up on the streets in grave danger of turning to prostitution as a means of livelihood - a particular danger to young unemployed girls.
Poverty is one of the main causes of the spread of HIV among young women. Unless the government comes up with a policy of reducing poverty, AIDS cases will continue to rise.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1999 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement