National Health Dept

Description of National HIV/AIDS Department

The National HIV/AIDS Desk was formed in 1997 as a response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which has reached an alarming stage as follows:

It is estimated that 14% of the adult population in Zambia is infected with HIV – 920,000 people out of a total population of 10 million.  About 84% of these are between the ages of 20 and 29.  Despite limited HIV testing, it is estimated that 17.8% of women and 12.9% of men are currently infected.  Infection rates are higher in urban areas than in rural areas.  The most at risk individual in Zambia is the sero-negative partner in a discordant couple.  There is an annual 11.8% sero-conversion of negative partners.  It is estimated that 21% of couples are discordant in Lusaka.  Other groups that are at high risk include highly mobile populations such as migrant workers, sex workers, long-distance truck drivers, minibus drivers, refugees, prisoners and uniformed personnel.   Currently, over 20,000 infants are newly infected each year. 
In Zambia, high prevalence rates are fuelled by early initiation of sex, unprotected sex with non-regular partners, multiple sexual partners, sexual violence among women, and poverty that forces women and girls into prostitution. In addition to those infected, many others feel the impact.  The number of persons dying as a result of AIDS is estimated at 89,000 per year, leaving behind a growing number of orphans, currently estimated at 630,
Despite some evidence that the HIV infection rates has reduced from 16% to 14.2%, the major part of the National Health system has however, remained poorly served in terms of drugs, medical supplies and other logistics. The consequence has been deterioration in Health care delivery. In the last decade most health indicators have worsened due to the negative impact of HIV and AIDS. There still remains an urgent need for an integrated and holistic approach to combating the disease and improving the health care system as a whole.  HIV and AIDS still remains a huge developmental challenge in Zambia.

The objectives of HIV/AIDS desk;

To alleviate poverty, incidence and prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Zambia through coordinating and facilitating the Home Based Care (HBC) programmes conducted in our ten Catholic dioceses on Zambia especially the chronically ill and orphans.

Key developments

The National HIV/AIDS desk coordinates and evaluates the HBC programmes, in order to guarantee support and sustainability of the different programmes and activities in the Ten Catholic dioceses of Zambia. Currently there are 200 HBC programmes running in different dioceses

Home Based Care (HBC) Experiences and Results

Arising from the HBC programmes and activities of 2003, the following are the experiences and results;

Care Supporters   - 2272
Care Givers            - 9329
Total Clients         - 60914

Regardless of figures, collaborative efforts are needed in the mitigation of HIV/AIDS, other infections and chronic Strengths of HBC

The Catholic Secretariat - Health Desk wish to acknowledge some of the strengths for the Home Based Care programmes in the year 2008 as follows;

1. Financial support from PSG, Trocaire, CAFOD and Cordaid has capacitated the Health Dept to undertake the HBC programmes initiative.
2. The HBC programmes have continued to care and support clients therefore accessing clients to improved treatment, nutrition and dying with dignity .
3. Dedicated and committed volunteerism from the community.
4. Continued involvement and support of Parish Priests, Mission Hospitals and Rural Health Centres in the HBC programmes.
5. Improved Networking among stakeholders in HBC programmes like Mission Hospitals, Rural Health Centres, Parishes, District offices, NGO’s, Government, communities and other agencies. illnesses.
6. Community appreciation of the work and effort of HBC programmes in their communities
7. Trainings, sensitisation and awareness campaigns in HIV/AIDS has reduced stigma and discrimination, traditional customs like cleansing and behavioural change in the care givers, care supporters and communities at large.
8. Communities and Churches have the human resources, infrastructure to expand the HBC services to the nearest point of delivery whether urban or rural set up.
9. Formation of HIV/AIDS support groups.

Challenges of Home Based Care

The HBC programmes faced some challenges in its operation in the year of 2008. The following are the challenges;
1. Increased demand to open new HBC programmes
2. Insufficient food and drugs for clients
4. Increased demand of widows, orphans and vulnerable children support
5. Lack of sufficient and trained care supporters like doctors, clinical officers, nurses and counsellors in HBC projects
6. Insufficient support and incentives for care givers and supporters in the HBC projects
7. Deteriorating road networks making mobility difficulty
8. Insufficient funds for sustainability ventures like income generating activities
9. Lack of sufficient transport e.g. vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles
10. Donor demand and influence therefore causing workload