AIDS has become a national epidemic in Zambia. The very first case was reported in 1984, but the number of Zambians with AIDS has grown considerably. One of the reasons for the increase is because then-President Kaunda had not addressed the spreading disease, having kept it a secret, until his son died of AIDS, after which he retracted his policy of secrecy and announced that AIDS was a national problem.
President Mwanawasa openly declared AIDS as a widespread disease and vowed to medically treat over 10,000 aids patients with the antiretroviral drug. Today, one in five adults has AIDS and, as of 2007, 98,000 are being treated with the anti retroviral drug. This number is especially concentrated among women and young girls, especially between the ages of fifteen and twenty four. Children, overall, have been greatly impacted by the spreading disease. In 2009, Zambia reported 801,000 children with AIDS; they are often abandoned because of their condition. Unfortunately, only 23% of Zambians are reaching out to Volunteer Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers, which means that far more might be infected. In 2007, the number of AIDS deaths was counted at 96,000.
AIDS affects every aspect of the nation. With poverty being so profound around the country, the number of people dying of the disease is high, leaving the country with few workers and entrepreneurs. The AIDS epidemic is even more appalling when juxtaposed against the life expectancy of 39 years, which is rather low in light of the life expectancy of about 74 years in the United States and other affluent countries. The gap for AIDS treatment centers, especially in rural areas where there is a high of patients afflicted with AIDS, and access to medicine also contributes to the spread of AIDS.
The government has been fighting the spread of AIDS with educational outreach in order to do away with misconceptions about how AIDS is spread and misplacement of shame. Christian organizations, by collaborating with the government and promoting condom use, have also helped to change Zambians' misgivings about openly discussing it and seeking treatment. However, there have been problems with AIDS funding. Internal government corruption created a ripe environment for embezzling funds allocated to AIDS treatment from aid donors, causing them all (Sweden, Canada, the Netherlands) to suspend funding until internal oversight improves. When this will be is up to the Zambian government, but is a moratorium in funding the right approach? AIDS funding should be issued through INGO intermediaries (i.e. International Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders) because AIDS patients should not suffer unnecessarily due to corruption in their government. Treatment should continue, which is only possible with adequate funding. Clearly, and for obvious reason, the national poverty should be confronted with economic development, not by plunging needed medical funding.
I must say, when I began to read about the gravity of the AIDS epidemic, the data was disconcerting. Thinking about peoples' suffering from having the disease and their struggle to get proper treatment, not to mention the feeling of isolation they experience from being ostracized, was even more depressing in light of the news about government corruption.
I recommend visiting these notable websites for further information about the AIDS epidemic:
http://www.avert.org/aids-zambia.htm
http://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/01/05/23-zambians-access-vct-services/
http://www.usaid.gov/zm/hiv/hiv.htm
Fundraising note - thank you, Gary Patry, for your recent contribution of $50.00. I have also just sent the money I raised over Christmas to Canada today. The total money raised is now at $230! Only $1,763 to go before February 17th, 2011.CUSO-VSO fixed whatever the problem was with processing the credit card option. You can now do that just to make it easy for you to contribute.
Thank you to all of you, too, for reading my blogs during this crunch time. Remember, only $10 per person goes a long, long, way.
Showing posts with label HIV Aids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HIV Aids. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
ZAMBIA COUNTRY PROFILE
Even if you have never been to the African continent, you can probably imagine the level of poverty in a country like Zambia. Not unlike residents of other Third World countries, Zambians live in abject poverty. Per capita Gross National Income (GNI) is only USD$320. According to poverty reports from the World Bank, more than a million Zambians live on USD$1.00 per day, a level of poverty that exists in even in the more affluent major cities, like Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.
Poor sanitation and poverty results in high infant (about 300 per 1000 live births) and maternal (650 per 100,000 live births) mortality rates. The average life expectancy is only 35 years. HIV Aids places an additional burden on Zambia's weak healthcare capabilities. The number of facilities are inadequate and they do not have the ability to care for HIV Aids patients.
Unlike the counterparts of Third World countries, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, there is no safety net (i.e. unemployment insurance, housing subsidies, food stamps) to assist the poor with living. Zambians are no less affected. Poor Zambians have to rely on charity, aid programs to help them develop the infrastructure and skills capacities to become more self-sustaining. In some communities, they have to walk for miles just to fetch their daily drinking water and some have to boil it to make sure it is safe for drinking. Daily living, literally, becomes a process of scraping for food and water.
Zambia does have capacities that represent potential for sustainable development. Reports from those who know Zambia report of its beautiful landmarks everywhere, embodied in the mountainous terrains and the spectacular natural wonders (i.e. Victoria Falls, Zambezi River). Its rich soils produce a bounty of various crops that range from fruits (i.e. sugar cane, avocado, grapes) to grains (i.e. wheat and rice). These are only some of the foods grown there. The literacy rate (87% males, 75% females) indicates an educated workforce that would be receptive to capacity trainings.
The government is seeking to diversify its economic exports, a decision learned after the country's income (GNP, GDP) plummeted from the drop in the value of copper, which was Zambia's primary industrial export. The government also hopes to gain dollars from the growing tourism market.
Dreams are thwarted by poverty. To cope psychologically, the poor settle for philosophies that make them feel better about their situation. In the Philippines, the saying "bahala na" means "well, just leave it alone", which is to say that fate must be left up to God because there is nothing they can do about it. From where the poor are on the Kuznet's inequality curve, this is true. But to those, who can influence change and betterment, "bahala na" is simply an excuse. The situation in Zambia clearly justifies aid and volunteer support from individuals and agencies that have the willingness and the ability to help.
Please visit my fundraising webpage and donate today to support the community work of CUSO-VSO. Even if you have only $10 to give, that is still $10 more than yesterday.
Poor sanitation and poverty results in high infant (about 300 per 1000 live births) and maternal (650 per 100,000 live births) mortality rates. The average life expectancy is only 35 years. HIV Aids places an additional burden on Zambia's weak healthcare capabilities. The number of facilities are inadequate and they do not have the ability to care for HIV Aids patients.
Unlike the counterparts of Third World countries, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, there is no safety net (i.e. unemployment insurance, housing subsidies, food stamps) to assist the poor with living. Zambians are no less affected. Poor Zambians have to rely on charity, aid programs to help them develop the infrastructure and skills capacities to become more self-sustaining. In some communities, they have to walk for miles just to fetch their daily drinking water and some have to boil it to make sure it is safe for drinking. Daily living, literally, becomes a process of scraping for food and water.
Zambia does have capacities that represent potential for sustainable development. Reports from those who know Zambia report of its beautiful landmarks everywhere, embodied in the mountainous terrains and the spectacular natural wonders (i.e. Victoria Falls, Zambezi River). Its rich soils produce a bounty of various crops that range from fruits (i.e. sugar cane, avocado, grapes) to grains (i.e. wheat and rice). These are only some of the foods grown there. The literacy rate (87% males, 75% females) indicates an educated workforce that would be receptive to capacity trainings.
The government is seeking to diversify its economic exports, a decision learned after the country's income (GNP, GDP) plummeted from the drop in the value of copper, which was Zambia's primary industrial export. The government also hopes to gain dollars from the growing tourism market.
Dreams are thwarted by poverty. To cope psychologically, the poor settle for philosophies that make them feel better about their situation. In the Philippines, the saying "bahala na" means "well, just leave it alone", which is to say that fate must be left up to God because there is nothing they can do about it. From where the poor are on the Kuznet's inequality curve, this is true. But to those, who can influence change and betterment, "bahala na" is simply an excuse. The situation in Zambia clearly justifies aid and volunteer support from individuals and agencies that have the willingness and the ability to help.
Please visit my fundraising webpage and donate today to support the community work of CUSO-VSO. Even if you have only $10 to give, that is still $10 more than yesterday.
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