Tapiwa Gomo, Lusaka
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.