HIV/AIDS

Zambia is located in the middle of the region with the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS. With over 1 million infected people (out of a total population of 12 million), an estimated one million orphaned children, and more than 200,000 people in need of anti-retroviral therapy (ART), the accompanying human, social and economic consequences make HIV/ AIDS one of most the most crucial contemporary developmental challenge.

In responding to the devastating personal, social and economic impacts of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Zambia has formulated the National AIDS Strategic Framework (NASF) 2006-2010 which is multisectoral and coordinated by the Zambian National AIDS Council (NAC). The Fifth National Development Plan also contains a chapter on HIV/AIDS (Word doc).

The Embassy is strategically supporting with other Cooperating Partners (CPs) the implementation of HIV/AIDS policy frameworks through the National AIDS Council (NAC), the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) and the Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN), thereby aiming at: .

Improving the institutional and managerial capacities of NAC, CHAZ and ZNAN
Enhance the sub-granting capacity of CHAZ and ZNAN
Strengthening national planning and implementation of HIV/AIDS programmes
Increasing focus on women and reproductive health
Increasing focus on the synergies between HIV prevention and treatment
Increasing focus on young people and on children orphaned by HIV/AIDS
Strengthening the involvement of the civil society in the management of the response

5.1 National AIDS Council

The Zambian National AIDS Council (NAC) was established as a statutory body through an Act of Parliament in 2002 and functions as the sole national AIDS coordinating authority accountable to the Cabinet Committee on HIV/AIDS.

NAC manages and coordinates the country’s multisectoral National AIDS Strategic Framework 2006-2010. The NASF has 6 themes, namely:

Intensifying Prevention of HIV
Expanding Treatment, Care and Support for people affected by HIV/AIDS
Mitigating the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS
Strengthening the Decentralised Response and Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS
Improving the Monitoring of the Multisectoral Response
Integrating Advocacy and Coordination of the Multisectoral Response

The Embassy, through pooled funding with other donors, supports NAC to coordinate, manage, and direct the multi-sectoral national response. This support facilitates NAC’s core task of supporting the development and coordination of strategies for prevention and combating HIV/AIDS. This support has also greatly enabled NAC to receive long-term technical assistance that will help the decentralised response at provincial and district levels. More information on www.health.gov.zm.

5.2 The Churches Health Association of Zambia

The Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) was created in 1970 as an umbrella organization to represent work done by Church-based health institutions in Zambia. Altogether, these institutions are responsible for over 50% of health services in the rural areas and about 30% of health care in the country at large. CHAZ complements government efforts in the delivery of quality healthcare by bringing to the health sector professional human, material, and financial resources.

The overall goal for the CHAZ AIDS Care and Prevention Programme is to contribute to the prevention of HIV incidence and mitigate the social-economic impact of HIV/AIDS epidemic in rural Zambia. This is contained in the CHAZ HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan 2006-2010. This goal is achieved through six main purposes stated below.

Prevent further transmission of HIV infections particularly in the youth and women
Improve quality of life of people infected by HIV
Reduce the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS on individuals and families
Strengthen capacities and increase the number of communities responding to the epidemic
Promote Human Rights and Gender Advocacy

The Embassy support forms part of a Joint Financing Arrangement to be period 2007-2010 between CHAZ, Irish Aid and Dan Church Aid. CHAZ has proven to be one of the most effective service providers in this realm. CHAZ is, since 2003, one of the Global Fund Principal Recipients for HIV / AIDS, and as such a sub-granting agency for Non-Governmental Faith Based Organisations and Community Based Organisations active in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Zambia. See also www.chaz.org.zm.

5.3 The Zambia National AIDS Network

The Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN) was established in 1994 to promote liaison, collaboration and co-ordination among non-governmental organizations and community based organizations involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. ZNAN is a member of the NAC, and it works closely together with the CHAZ. Its Executive Director is also Vice-Chair of the Global Fund and Special Envoy of the United Nations’ Secretary General for HIV/AIDS in Africa. ZNAN evolved from a network organisation into a sub-granting agency and is a well respected principal recipient of the Global Fund.

The Embassy support forms part of a Joint Financing Arrangement between ZNAN, STARZ/DFID, the Embassy of Denmark and Open Society Initiative. The JFA over the period 2008-2010 aims to contribute to the strengthening of the civil society response to the HIV /AIDS epidemic in Zambia, in line with the National AIDS Strategic Framework 2006-2010. This will be achieved through the following purposes:

To intensify civil society HIV/AIDS programmes country-wide
To strengthening the advocacy roles of its 200 members
To strengthen the capacity of the ZNAN Secretariat
To provide a platform for civil society to lobby and advocate on HIV/AIDS interventions;
To strengthen and expand ZNAN‘s sub–granting activities
To strengthen the institutional and technical capacity to manage network plans
To strengthen ZNAN’s monitoring and evaluation system to measure the response