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"Debt, HIV Pose Challenge to Zambia And Namibia, Says Walubita." By Reuben Phiri
The Post, June 26, 2001

The unsustainable external debt and the HIV/AIDS pandemic are some of the key challenges facing the Zambian and Namibian economies, said foreign affairs minister Keli Walubita yesterday.

Opening the Zambia-Namibia Joint Permanent Commission of Co-operation, Walubita said the best way of dealing with these challenges was through co-operation. "It is for this reason that my government attaches great importance to this forum as it provides a major platform for addressing these common challenges," he said. Walubita said it was inevitable for the two governments to take stock and come up with a co-operation strategy that would derive significant benefit out of globalisation. He observed that this would entail a complete evaluation of existing areas of bilateral co-operation.

Walubita said since Namibia attained independence in 1990, the two countries had been co-operating in various fields namely transport, energy, construction and works and the legal field among others. "However, as can be clearly seen, there is still need to broaden and deepen our co-operation and I wish to advise the two delegations to look into the possibility of concluding more agreements to consolidate and strengthen co-operation," he said. Walubita said some of the agreements to be concluded could include agreement on avoidance of double taxation and promotion and protection of investment.

He observed that these two agreements would serve to stimulate investment between the two countries and urged the delegates to formulate innovative ways of co-operating in new areas such as mining, agriculture, health and education.

"PPAZ Advises Parents to Bury Taboos in Fight Against AIDS." By Martin Kunolu
The Post, June 20, 2001

Parents as role models must 'bury' taboos and be actively involved in combating AIDS, advised Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ) executive director Godfrey Musonda yesterday.

Closing a ten-day workshop on sexual reproductive health and family life education, Musonda said traditionally parents have always been providers for their children's needs until they also become parents. "Many times, even when they become parents, children still look up to their parents for support in many different ways," Musonda said. "As parents we need to ensure that our children will be able to live and see another day and participate in shaping the future development of our nation."

Family Life Movement of Zambia (FLMZ) executive director Raymond Muchindu urged the 66 participants to use the acquired knowledge and effectively sensitise society on the dangers of AIDS if the disease is to be reduced in Kafue where it is on the increase. The function was attended, among others, by Kafue resident magistrate John Ndeketeya.

"AIDS to Cut Life Expectancy by 17 Years."
The Post, June 15, 2001

The United Nations Population Division has painted a grim picture of the HIV/AIDS epidemic spreading through sub-Saharan Africa.

In a new chart released by the UN Population Division, Zambia is said to be among eight countries where the life expectancy will have dropped by at least 17 years by 2005. Others are Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa.

The UN Population Division said the numbers show a worsening of the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in terms of increased illness, deaths and population loss while the epidemic has yet to reach the peak of the deaths.

The chart was produced ahead of the UN General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS June 25-27, which is expected to adopt a global agenda to combat the disease. It includes AIDS statistics from every country, including life expectancy with and without AIDS, condom use, and health expenditure per capita.

Despite the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic, however, the population of the most affected countries is expected to increase by 2050. The African population which is today around 800 million is likely to be two billion by 2050, even with AIDS, according to the United Nations.

"Companies Called to Fight HIV/AIDS." By Whitney Mulobela
The Post, June 7, 2001

The Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) has called upon Zambian companies to join the Zambia Business Coalition Association (ZBCA) a non-governmental organisation to help those living with HIV/AIDS in work places.

Speaking recently in an interview with The Monitor, ZFE Chairman and Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) Managing Director, Samuel Musonda said the Coalition is a very important and welcome initiative by the Zambian business community.

"It is a good initiative, we will support it. I want to encourage the Zambian business houses to join," said Musonda. He said HIV/AIDS had affected the country economically hence the need to fight the disease. He said the Coalition would help reduce the effects that HIV/AIDS had on the economy, as it would help the victims with funds for their treatment.

And ZBCA Chairman, Masautso Nyathando revealed that the association comprised about twenty (20) members. "We started with only about four companies, currently we have about 20 companies that are members of the Association," said Nyathando. He said employers should have a heart for their employees.

The Zambia Business Coalition Association is a non-governmental organisation that was established by some business houses to establish and create awareness on HIV/AIDS in work places. "ZBCA as you know was established to create awareness, provide information and break the silence on HIV/AIDS in work places; in order to contribute towards measures to prevent and control HIV/AIDS infection among employees," said Nyathando.

The Coalition also provides condoms, training and referrals through networking. Meanwhile, Musonda called upon government to resolve the problems of the Civil Servants who are currently on strike. He said as employers, they are concerned with the strike that had now spread countrywide.

"As employers we are not happy, the only solution is that the government should sit down with the aggrieved so that they can resolve the problems," said Musonda.

"ICASA Audit Reveals Glaring Irregularities."
The Post, May 23, 2001

More glaring financial irregularities involving unaccounted for hundreds of millions of kwacha have been unearthed in an audit on the organisation of the International Conference of AIDS STDs in Africa (ICASA) hosted in Lusaka in September 1999.

An audit by the Auditor General's Office handed over to Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr. Kashiba Bulaya in August last year states that no internal control systems were put in place to effectively account for finances provided to the XI-ICASA 99 secretariat to organise the conference. Among the irregularities highlighted was the payment without tender procedure of K80 million to Toyota Zambia on September 16, 1999 for the purchase of 42 motor vehicles which by April 2000 had still not been delivered.

The audit stated further that there had been rampant irregular disbursement of funds with hardly any details given on who was paid and on what the funds were spent. "There were no disposal details in respect of the Ministry of Health/ICASA account, there was a duplicate payment for the hire of buses, motor vehicles purchased could not be accounted for, there was failure to obtain expenditure returns from agency ministries/departments, there were no details of beneficiaries in respect of moneys transferred to New York, there were no supporting details for bank withdrawals, bank accounts were not closed as at 31.12.99 when the Secretariat was supposed to windup," a summary of the findings read in part.

According to the report, the amount of K3.22 billion comprising K2.5 billion released by the Ministry of Finance and K720 million donated by the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) was deposited into a special Ministry of Health bank account No. 0001-01010359 maintained at the now defunct Union Bank.

An examination of records revealed that as of April 2000, there were no disposal details in respect of the balance of K311,395,479 which was in the account as at October 18, 1999. The Ministry of Health paid the full contract price of US$117,800 at US$16,800 per day for the hire of 20 buses from Magnet Freight Systems for the period from September 12 to 15, 1999.

However, it was noted that the ICASA secretariat retained all the 20 buses on September 16 and 10 of them the following day for which charges totalling US$25,200 were levied and dully paid on September 22, 1999. "Although no further hires were made, it was observed that another payment of US$16,800 was made on 8th November, 1999 as hire charges for buses on 16th September, 1999," the report read.

"The second payment of US$16,800 had no basis and is therefore renewable." The audit also revealed an irregular purchase of motor vehicles "However as of April 2000 the vehicles had not been received and no refund had been claimed. It was also observed that the purchase was made without Zambia National Tender Board authority," the report further stated.

It was also observed after a scrutiny of documents that there had been mutilated receipts with book copies of some receipts torn off making it difficult to ascertain the amount of money receipted and how it was accounted for. Other bank transfers and withdrawals of K80 million and K200 million on September 14, 1999 and October 18, 1999 were not supported by details of the beneficiaries making the transfers highly questionable.

The ICASA secretariat also effected some irregular bank transfer involving US$13,152 equivalent to K32.88 million then, without letters of instructions and no indication of who benefited. There was also unaccounted for cash by the accountant involving a withdrawal on September 8, 1999 of US$17,080 and an additional amount of US$8,540 received from the assistant accountant.

It was observed that only US$8,260 was paid for international scholarships while US$17,360 remained unaccounted for by the close of the audit last year. A further reconciliation of revenue collections with bank slips, bank statements receipts, cash books including bank transfer letters during the period May 17, 1999 to October 31 the same year revealed shortages of revenue totalling K86,028,478 in cheques and US$1,336 in cash.

"Education Feels The Impact of HIV/AIDS." By Bivan Saluseki
Health-L, May 15, 2001

The impact of HIV/AIDS on the education sector has been severe, United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) resident representative to Zambia Stella Goings has observed. Signing the agreement between the Ministry of Education and the Zambia Community Schools Secretariat (ZCSS) yesterday, Goings said a high number of teachers were dying everyday due to AIDS. Goings said the impact of HIV/AIDS has affected the quality of education. "There is however hope as long as we address these issues directly," she said.

Goings supported partnership between donors and the Zambian government in addressing problems in the education sector. She said an estimated 65,000 vulnerable children would benefit from the ZCSS agreement. Goings said Zambia was at a threshold of a new and more accelerated movement of schools. Ministry of Education chief inspector of schools Christopher Zulu said the community schools totalled only 56 in 1996 but have risen to 701 this year catering for about 75,000 children. Zulu said 47 per cent of the pupils were girls while 17 per cent were orphans. However, Zulu said the community schools could only run effectively with proper boards.

Ministry of Education Permanent secretary Sichalwe Kasanda said organisations being assisted should ensure that they are accountable and transparent. "As we move along this road of partnership in education we must observe two important things, accountability and transparency," Kasanda said. "We must be accountable to the community whose children are entrusted to us. Let us be seen to put to good use all resources that have been donated to our schools." Under the agreement, the Ministry of Education would help with teachers, assist with teaching resources and money.

"Zambian, American NGOs Team Up Against AIDS." By Dorcas Chilese
Daily Mail, April 6, 2001

The challenges surrounding the fight against HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health problems in Zambia are getting bigger by the day. To this end, the aspect of networking or establishing partnership at regional or international level is proving to be an effective way of addressing some of the biggest challenges of the scourge. The Family Life Movement of Zambia (FLMZ) is one organisation which has been privileged to establish partnership with an international organisation called Planned Parenthood of New York City (PPNYC). The partnership focuses on sharing new approaches to sex education, finding ways of working closely with religious groups promoting sexual reproductive health, and funding strategies for faith-based organisations working in this area.

The new partnership between PPNYC and FLMZ is as a result of the Global Partners Initiative which is intended to link planned parenthood affiliates in the United States to organisations involved in promoting sexual and reproductive health in Africa and other parts of the world. Recently, five officials from the PPNYC and its international division, the Margaret Sanger Centre, paid a four-day Global Partners visit to Zambia. The purpose of the visit was to explore common issues faced by FLMZ and learn about the delivery of sex reproductive health education and services in resource limited communities. The team thus had an opportunity to observe strategies for delivery of sexual reproductive health training in resource poor environment. During one of the visits to a FLMZ parent-elder programme in Lusaka's Misisi compound, the team was shocked to learn that the area with a population of 45,000 had no school, no health centre yet it had 30 taverns thereby resulting in the high levels of prostitution and crime among young people.

The Misisi FLMZ parent-elder educator Mastard Ngoma, said prostitution and criminal activities among young people were becoming difficult to control because the majority of young people were idle. Mr Ngoma also said TB, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections were also very high in the compound. She added that the rampant AIDS-related deaths had also resulted in the high number of orphans and street kids in the compound. Some residents talked to said that the compound had no school or health centre because the area is considered an illegal settlement. Most residents wondered why the compound is considered illegal when politicians rush there to campaign for votes during election time. Despite such problems FLMZ parent-elder educators in this area have some successes to point at.

Mr Ngoma said the parent-elder programme had helped to improve dialogue on sexuality issues between parents and children in the area. A lot of parents talked to said although the discussion of sexual matters with children was still considered taboo, many parents started changing such negative beliefs because there were no grandparents to take up such a role. "AIDS is wiping away a lot of our children, therefore the issue of considering it taboo to discuss facts about sexuality issues with our children will only lead to more deaths among young people," one woman said. Other parents said the parent-elder education programme had helped to enhance dialogue between couples. "Sometime back, I used to bury myself in a newspaper after work without really sparing time to talk to my wife. After learning about the importance of dialogue with spouses, I make sure I find time to chat with my wife," one man said.

FLMZ executive director Raymond Muchindu, said he was impressed with the work being done by the Misisi parent-elder group. He said although his organisation could not provide solutions to some of the problems being experienced in the compound, his organisation could still assist by identifying institutions and help to solve various problems. "The purpose of networking is actually to liaise with partners so that they can help us out in areas where we cannot cope as an organisation," he said. In Chawama compound, the team visited a community-based school which has more than 200 orphans. Some pupils at the school complained that prostitution among young people was increasing in the area. The orphans said there was need to sensitise parents in the area against such behaviou.

During the meeting with church and traditional leaders, the visiting delegation had an opportunity to learn about the problems that made it difficult for the two organisations to work in harmony. Some religious leaders, for instance, complained that some traditionalists were still encouraging practices that promoted the spread of HIV/AIDS and wondered how Christians should be expected to support such activities. Reverend Elias Luhana of Living Word Church in Lusaka, cited polygamy, sexual cleansing and sharing of razor blades using for tattooing as some of the practices which were still being encouraged by traditional healers. Rev Luhana added that marital teachings being given to girls during initiation ceremonies were worrying because it prompted girls to experiment what they had been taught. He said many girls ended up contracting HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and having teenage pregnancies as a result of such teachings.

FLMZ board chairperson Hillary Fyfe, also cited some traditional healers in the habit of demanding sex from barren women who approach them for herbs to help them conceive. She said such behaviour contributed to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country. But Alangizi national coordinator Dr Iress Phiri, said her association had been sensitising traditional healers to stop such practices and that most of them had changed. Dr Phiri said a lot of traditional healers realised the dangers of HIV/AIDS and had therefore stopped the practices. She agreed that some traditional healers could still be encouraging such practices due to lack of sensitisation on the dangers. She said there was need to sensitise traditional healers throughout the country on the need to stop harmful practices. "Our organisation is ready to take up such a challenge, but we have no funds, " she said.

Margaret Sanger Centre International director at the South Africa office Folami Harris, said she was happy to see churches and traditionalists meeting to iron out obstacles which had been hampering unity in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health problems. Ms Harris said there was need for church leaders and traditionalists to meet more often and brainstorm how to iron out the existing problems. At the Kafue Adolescent and Reproductive Health Project, the delegation learnt that some parents were still opposed to family planning because of the belief that wealth lay in the number of children. Such opposition has prompted Parent-elder educators in Kafue to start targeting parents in churches for them to sensitive the communities on the benefits of family planning.

The American delegation also had an opportunity of meeting the key leadership in the Adolescent Reproductive Health Consortium. During the meeting the delegation explored common issues that Consortium members faced and the delivery of sexually health education and services in resource limited communities. "Our visit was an extraordinary experience. We have learnt the critical role that the Consortium is playing in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections," said Joan Malin, the PPNYC chief executive officer. She said she was happy that the Consortium members had remained focused on their common bonds of strengthening families and developing Zambia's youth rather than letting their differences diminish their effectiveness,. Ms Malin, who was the leader of the delegation, also hailed the Zambian government through the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development for its commitment to the development of its young people. "I come away knowing that the government and the Consortium agencies share a commitment and passion to provide a healthy future for the Zambian youth," she said. She said her team would share what they had learnt in Zambia during their visit in the hope of gaining support for such effort.

Under the same partnership programme, FLMZ officials are expected to visit PPNYC in the USA in June this year where they are going to be introduced to potential financiers. FLMZ officials will also learn about HIV/AIDS prevention services as delivered in the United States, explore US approaches to parenting and sexuality education and exchange experiences with faith-based organisations working on similar issues. It is hoped that the new partnership between PPNYC and FLMZ will bring about improved dimensions in addressing the fight against HIV/AIDS and other sexual reproductive health problems affecting the young people in Zambia.

"Zambia to Benefit from UN Initiative." By Reuben Phiri
The Post, April 6, 2001

Zambia is among several countries that have been earmarked to benefit from a United Nations initiative to raise billions of dollars and political support in the United States towards the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. The plan aims to raise about US$6 billion a year from industrialised nations including US$2 billion a year from the United States. About half the money would be used to initially get AIDS medicines to more than 10 per of the estimated 25.3 million Africans who are infected with HIV. The other would be used to greatly accelerate HIV prevention programmes. Under the plan which is still being considered by the UN agencies, the powerful AIDS drug cocktails would not simply be dumped on Africa, but carefully distributed with people closely monitored as they were in clinical trials. Director of the US national Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases Anthony Fauci, said he had met with officials of agencies running trials in the United States who pledged to play a valuable role in Africa if invited by African leaders. Other countries expected to benefit from the initiative are South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda.

"HIV/AIDS Takes Priority in US's Aid to Zambia." By Chama Nasbika
The Post, April 5, 2001

The fight against HIV/AIDS takes top priority in the United States government's assistance to Zambia, said US Ambassador to Zambia David Dunn yesterday. Giving Zambia US $6 million on behalf of his government to strengthen HIV/AIDS activities, Ambassador Dunn said the scourge was the major development challenge facing Zambia.

Ambassador Dunn said although there were signs of change in some parts of the population, particularly the critical 14-19 age group in urban areas, more needed to be done to reduce the country's HIV prevalence rate from its current 19.7 per cent levels. He said his government had pledged about US $15 million over the next 5 years. Finance minister Katele Kalumba said although the economic effects of HIV/AIDS have not yet been considered in totality, there were strong indicators of a negative impact on the economy. Some data estimate that about 1 per cent of gross domestic product is lost through the pandemic.

Kalumba said present government expenditure on fighting the scourge was much shallower than the estimates on treatment alone. He said more is spent at household level in various ways such as mobility. Kalumba said the third amendment endorsed yesterday would facilitate funds in order to scale-up and expand the health interventions in Zambia as outlined in the strategic objective grant agreement at a time when the country was confronted with huge budgetary constraints.

Regarding the possibility of government entering into agreements with some pharmaceutical companies to supply AIDS drugs at reduced cost, Kalumba said they were studying how such approaches had worked in Senegal and Uganda but that it was a more plausible option for Zambia to take as it did not have capacity to manufacture its own generic drugs.

Acting finance permanent secretary (budget) David Diangamo, who is also Central Statistical Office director, said current statistics on HIV/AIDS prevalence rates should not be taken as a true reflection but as an indicator because they were not scientifically and geographically stratified. He disclosed that they had now factored into the Demographic Health Survey a component to monitor at household level sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis which in most cases are indication of HIV infection.

The US assistance is meant to go towards various activities including condom social marketing, communication programmes, voluntary counselling and testing, orphans and vulnerable children, parent-to child transmission and trucker and sex worker border programmes.

"Jubilee-Zambia Opposes World Bank's Aids Loan." By Chama Nsabika
The Post, April 4, 2001

If the World Bank is truly concerned about the HIV/AIDS situation in Zambia, its solution to this problem should be 'people-centred' as opposed to the current 'monetary and commercial' approach it is promoting, Jubilee-Zambia acting co-ordinator Charity Musamba has said. Musamba was reacting to World Bank country director for Zambia Yaw Ansu's justification of Zambia's need to borrow from the Bank in its fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. She said Jubilee-Zambia was concerned with the World Bank's insistence that Zambia should acquire loans to tackle the AIDS problem because loans will not solve the pandemic.

"The World Bank should realise that Zambia is actually losing more lives as a result of servicing debts for the loans that they are being encouraged to borrow," she charged. Musamba maintained that loans were not the main option especially if thousands of people are dying as Ansu noted. She said the solution lay in the financing institution changing its approach to this crucial matter and that it should instead empower countries like Zambia to tackle this problem in a more sustainable way. Musamba reminded that all were aware of how loans affected the country today and that more loans would only continue to undermine the prosperity and opportunities of Zambia to deal with the AIDS crisis and the related challenges of poverty.

"Zambia needs grants and other non-exploitative forms of external assistance. Serious and real assistance to Zambia will aim at avoiding any chances of worsening the country's debt problem," Musamba said." Let us fight AIDS by avoiding debt traps." The World Bank last year offered Zambia a loan for the fight against AIDS which was turned down by then health minister David Mpamba whose decision raised objections from the World Bank but was later accepted by the Zambian government. Ansu wondered why borrowing to fight AIDS should be an issue when the AIDS scourge had reached "emergency" proportions.

"US Gives Zambia 6 Million Dollars to Fight HIV/AIDS."
Panafrican News Agency, April 4, 2001

The US government has given Zambia about six million dollars to strengthen activities against HIV/AIDS in the country with a 20-percent HIV prevalence rate. The donation will support a wide range of activities including condom social marketing, communication programmes,voluntary counselling and testing, assistance for orphan and vulnerable children, youth programmes, parent-to-child transmission activities and trucker and sex worker border programmes.

Under the agreement both governments signed in Lusaka Wednesday, the financial support is intended to increase the use of integrated child and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS interventions. The US ambassador to Zambia, David Dunn observed that fighting HIV/AIDS was the "major development challenge facing Zambia today". "There are signs that we are seeing change in some parts of the population, but more needs to be done to reduce the current HIV prevalence rate of 20 percent," Dunn added.

Finance minister Katele Kalumba explained that Zambia has developed several reforms in the health sector in an effort to provide cost-effective quality health care as close to the family as possible. He cited the five-year national health strategic plan which he said provides guidance and sets priorities for the implementation of the health reforms during 2001-2005, as well as the National HIV/AIDS Strategic plan and sectoral HIV/AIDS strategic plans for increasing the multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS.

Kalumba also said government has not yet entered into any agreement with pharmaceutical companies to provide Anti-Retroviral drugs in Zambia because it is still studying the experiences in Uganda and Senegal where they had negotiated for reduced prices of the drugs.

The estimated cost under the "HIV/AIDS strategic framework or 2001-2003" of Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy for three years is put at 158 million US dollars. About 10 million dollars of the amount would be for expansion costs while 148 million dollars would be go toward purchasing drugs. According to the strategic framework, it is projected that 45 percent of all hospital beds will be utilised for AIDS patients by 2014, leading to concerns that patients needing hospitalisation for other conditions may be crowded out. Hospitalisation costs each AIDS patient about 200 dollars, yet per capita expenditure on health by the government of Zambia is approximately 3 dollars per year.

Zambia, which has projected to spend 22.1 million dollars toward combating HIV/AIDS by 2014, spent a mere total of 3.4 million dollars on the pandemic in 1989.

"AIDS Cases Down, Says Minister." By Angela Chishimba
Health-L, April 6, 2001

Sport, Youth and Child Development acting minister, Mr Abel Chambeshi, has said that Zambia and Uganda have recorded a slight slow-down in HIV/AIDS infection rates of about 14 per cent to eight per cent. Mr Chambeshi disclosed this when he opened the Commonwealth Regional Youth Forum in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Chambeshi said these achievements indicated that it was possible to contain the spread of the disease. "The slow-down indicates what could be achieved if governments, church organisations, community groups, local authorities and our development partners could continue to show commitment and leadership," he said.

Mr Chambeshi, however, said no single intervention measure towards the disease could succeed when applied in isolation adding that there was need to strengthen current measures aimed at raising awareness among communities and especially amongst young people. He said this includes the provision of information on the dangers of pre-marital and extra-marital sex.

"We have also learnt that there is value in continuing with cross consultations amongst key stakeholders such as the agencies involved in the HIV/AIDS fight," he said. Mr Chambeshi said there was need for peer education among young people saying that results of studies undertaken recently confirmed that peer education was an effective HIV/AIDS-prevention strategy. He called upon governments in the region and international development agencies and church leaders to continue facilitating meetings of young people as a way of enabling them to determine their needs in as far as provision of information on HIV/AIDS was concerned.

"Controversial Testing Produces Unexpected Results." By Lewis Mwanangombe
Panafrican News Agency, April 1, 2001

The highly emotive health programme that involved the testing of miners, from both underground and surface work sites, for HIV-AIDS infection has turned up a most surprising result with many proven negative. New owners of Konkola Copper Mines almost hit an emotional minefield with their demand that employed miners and those from companies contracted should test for HIV-AIDS infection, and from the look of things they can now sigh with relief.

Results of the random testing conducted in February and March show that 82 percent of all those tested at Konkola Copper Mines are HIV negative. All together 6,135 permanent employees out of a labour force of 9,524 were surveyed. In addition 2,388 contract employees were also asked to submit to the tests. Of the 8,523 total employees tested only 18 percent were found to be HIV positive.

The result has cheered Mineworkers Union of Zambia chairman, Andrew Mwanza to insist on the need for the employer to devise plan for taking care of the HIV positive workers. "It is now up to us as stakeholders to sit down with mine owners and plan the way forward," Mwanza said on Saturday. The anonymous and unlinked HIV-AIDS testing is said to be the first of its kind and one of the largest to be conducted on a group of working men anywhere in the world. Plans to assess workers for HIV-AIDS infection had previously been criticised by sections of the community - including the Christian Church and the labour movement - expressing fears that society may discriminate those diagnosed HIV positive.

Dr Clive Evian, of the AIDS Management and Support Company, conducted the tests. The Research and Human Subjects committee of the Witwatersrand University also supported his effort while the medical ethics committee of the University of Zambia assessed the methodology before giving the go-ahead. The chief executive officer of the Konkola Copper Mines, Tim Wadeson said, prior to the mass testing for HIV-AIDS infections, that the scheme was part of the company's 'health and assessment programme' necessary for future planning.

But Permanent Human Rights Commission chair, Judge Lombe Chibesakunda, had expressed reservations saying the tests could be used to victimise 'loud-mouths' and champions of workers' rights. "There must be a guarantee that those who do not take the HIV test will not be disadvantaged in any way," Chibesakunda said. He, however, wondered why similar concerns were not shown for diseases like malaria - which remains to be one of the major killers in Zambia.

But health minister Enock Kavindele defended the programme saying miners, like everybody else, deserve to be tested for HIV infections so that they can know their status. "Ideally every person is supposed to take an HIV test. These tests are all right for they will help us know when and how to help," Kavindele said.

"Miners' HIV Survey." By George Chomba
UN Integrated Regional Information Network, April 1, 2001

Zambia's Konkola Copper Mines said on Friday that 18 percent of its staff are HIV-positive, Reuters reported. "Of the total 8,523 employees surveyed, 18 percent were found to be HIV-positive," Konkola chief executive Tim Wadeson said in a statement

Konkola accounts for about two-thirds of Zambia's copper output and expects production to almost double to 240,000 tonnes this year from 125,000 tonnes in 2000. Wadeson said the survey was the first in Konkola's strategy to effectively manage HIV/AIDS in the company. Zambia is among the countries hardest hit by the pandemic, with an estimated one in five adults infected. Wadeson said last month the HIV/AIDS survey was necessary to help the firm plan its future operations and improve the health of its workers.

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Last updated June 27, 2001

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