Investing
in prevention is one way of curbing the spread of HIV in a country
like Zambia where 50% of the youth are faced with life-time
risk of dying of AIDS in the absence of treatment. This was
one of the main messages sent from Lusaka by Dr. Kapila Mukesh,
the International Federation Special representative for HIV
and AIDS at the launch of Zambia Red Cross five year- HIV and
AIDS programme on Monday.
“This is why we are also talking about empowering our
youth, our sons and daughters through life skills education
to take the right decisions about their lives and sexuality,”
said Patrick Couteau, the Federation health and care adviser.
“We are talking about creating safe space for the youth
through rehabilitation and equipping the youth friendly centers,
to transform their idleness and despair into hope and this has
to be done now before it’s too late,” he added.
The HIV and AIDS pandemic is a major threat to the socio-economic
development of Zambia and yet the level of knowledge on how
to prevent HIV among young people aged 15-24 years is low.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
recently launched a global Alliance on HIV and AIDS which will
help advocate for and enable universal access to prevention,
care, treatment and support.
“This global alliance will result, at a minimum, in a
doubling of direct beneficiaries in Red Cross and Red Crescent
HIV and AIDS programme in low and middle income countries,”said
Dr Kapila.
“This can only work when we all join hands, brains, all
our resources together which will provide harmonized and effective
support to Red Cross societies and country-based operational
alliances, and tackle the needs of the most vulnerable,”
Dr Kapila added.
The Zambia deputy Minister of Health, Dr.Lwipa Puma, who was
the guest of honour also acknowledged that HIV and AIDS in Zambia
continues to be the greatest challenge.
“It represents a clear and present danger to the security
of our nation in general. Almost on a daily basis we continue
to lose able bodied and productive men and women to this disease,”
he said, adding that the pandemic has also given rise to yet
another big challenge of looking after children orphaned and
made vulnerable by the HIV and AIDS.
Zambia Red Cross is currently running a home-based care programme
which is helping over 4,000 people living with HIV and 1,500
orphans in Sesheke, Sinazongwe, Chipata, Mansa, Mongu, Kapiri
Moshi, Livingstone and Mporokoso. They are currently also running
a home-based programme in the Mwange refugee camp in Mporokoso.
“With this new initiative we wish to expand to other areas
where our services are needed and improve the quality of service
given to our clients,” said Mr. Charles Mushitu, the Secretary
General of Zambia Red Cross.
Of the 17% of the population living the virus in Zambia, only
27% of infected men and women receive antiretroviral therapy
(ART). According to Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS)
1,100,000 Zambians were living with HIV at the end of 2005,
of which more than half were women.
The new integrated five year-HIV and AIDS strategy supported
by the appeal focuses on reducing vulnerability to HIV and its
impact through preventing further infection, expanding care,
treatment and support, reducing stigma and discrimination and
strengthening Red Cross society in Zambia. It will target five
million people with HIV prevention interventions and provide
care and support to 22,600 people living with HIV and 71,000
orphans and vulnerable children by 2010.
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Investing
in prevention is one way of curbing the spread of HIV
in a country like Zambia where 50% of the youth are faced
with life-time risk of dying of AIDS in the absence of
treatment. This was one of the main messages sent from
Lusaka by Dr. Kapila Mukesh, the International Federation
Special representative for HIV and AIDS at the launch
of Zambia Red Cross five year- HIV and AIDS programme
on Monday. (p15135)
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Dr.
Kapila Mukesh, the International Federation Special representative
for HIV and AIDS (on the left) with Zambia deputy Minister
of Health, Dr.Lwipa Puma (on the right). (p15136)
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