During 2000-05, Zambia will have the world's lowest life expectancy at birth: 32.4. Although Zambia's life expectancy is projected to increase, AIDS will reduce life expectancy by 26 to 39 percent through 2050.
By 2000, 749,000 Zambians had died because of AIDS, with AIDS having increased the number of deaths in the country by 32 percent. By 2015, AIDS will have increased the number of deaths by 83 percent, bringing the cumulative total of AIDS deaths to 2.8 million. By 2050, 6.2 million Zambians will have died because of the epidemic.
Source: Lisa Garbus “HIV/AIDS in Zambia” Country AIDS Policy Analysis Project, AIDS Policy Research Center, University of California San Francisco March, 2003)
HIV seroprevalence information among antenatal clinic attendees is available since the mid-1980s from Zambia. Lusaka and Ndola are the major urban areas. HIV prevalence among antenatal women tested in the major urban areas increased from 5 percent in 1985 to 27 percent in 1992 and remained at that level through 2002. HIV prevalence among antenatal clinic women outside the major urban centers remained stable at 13 to 14 percent since 1993 until 2002. HIV prevalence ranged from 6 percent to 32 percent of women tested in 19 sites in 2002.
The limited data on sex workers come from Ndola and pertain to 1997-1998. Sixty-nine percent of sex workers tested were HIV positive.
In the medium term, Zambia will experience a 5.8 percent reduction in GDP per capita because of HIV/AIDS; of this percentage, 1.0 percent is due to total factor productivity, 1.7 percent to the capital/labor ratio, and 3.1 percent to "experience" (aggregate knowledge and skills of the workforce, lost due to AIDS mortality and to the lack of such experience among new labor force entrants).
The ILO projects that Zambia will lose 19.9 percent of its labor force by 2020 (compared with the labor force size without HIV/AIDS).
Source: Lisa Garbus “HIV/AIDS in Zambia” Country AIDS Policy Analysis Project, AIDS Policy Research Center, University of California San Francisco March, 2003)
In a study conducted by the Institute of Economic and Social Research at the University of Zambia, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Bart's & The London School of Medicine, employers and employees in eight Zambian firms were interviewed to assess the direct and indirect costs of illness. The main causes of ill health were TB (46.8 percent), diarrhea (12.9 percent), and STIs (5.8 percent). Annual treatment costs incurred by employers ranged from US$4 to US$100 per person treated. Other employers costs included productivity losses, paid sick leave, cost of employee replacement, and funerals. Employees incurred costs of US$13 on average per episode of illness. The researchers note that the common causes of ill health were those most frequently associated with AIDS.
A study conducted in the Konkola Copper Mines found that HIV prevalence ranged from 18.1 to 20.1 percent among permanent employees and 14.4 to 15.2 percent among contract employees.
Source: Lisa Garbus “HIV/AIDS in Zambia” Country AIDS Policy Analysis Project, AIDS Policy Research Center, University of California San Francisco March, 2003)
Zambia relies heavily on donor funding. Donors funding HIV/AIDS programs include DFID, CIDA, EC, GTZ, Ireland Aid, JICA, Netherlands, DANIDA, NORAD, SIDA, USAID, and CDC.
Zambia is to receive US$42 million from the World Bank's Multicountry HIV/AIDS Program for Africa (MAP).
In April 2002, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria awarded a total of $92 million in grants to Zambia over 5 years for HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation (with $19 million for the first year).
In FY 2002, USAID provided $18.5 million to help support the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and Zambian civil society in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The Zambia Federation of Employers has encouraged its members to assist their workers in accessing ART. However, most Zambians either work in the informal sector or hold low level, non-unionized positions that do not offer medical assistance.
In December 2002, Copperbelt Electricity Corporation announced that it would provide ART to its workers and their spouses.
Among firms that have implemented HIV prevention (and some care) programs are Barclays Bank, Nakambala Sugar Estates, Caltex Oil, INDENI Petroleum Refinery Company, Copperbelt Electricity Corporation, Zambian Breweries, Mopani Copper Mines, British Petroleum, Konkola Copper Mines, and AHC Mining Municipal Services. However, the majority of Zambian employers have no HIV/AIDS policy nor program.
Source: Lisa Garbus “HIV/AIDS in Zambia” Country AIDS Policy Analysis Project, AIDS Policy Research Center, University of California San Francisco March, 2003); USAID, HIV/AIDS in Zambia.
There are a number of projects and implementing agencies that specialize in HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in the workplace, particularly in the business sector, that have formed a consortium called the 'AIDS in the Workplace' Partnership. The main partners are as follows: Zambia Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (ZBCA), The Zambia HIV/AIDS Business Sector (ZHABS) project, The Comprehensive HIV/AIDS management Programme (CHAMP), Zambia Integrated Health Programme (ZIHP), Zambia Health Education and Communication Trust (ZHECT). Other members of the partnership include the Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ), Kara Counselling, and the Society for Family Health (SFH)
In 2000, Zambia established the National HIV/AIDS/STD/TB Council to serve as the single, high-level institution responsible for national and technical leadership, strategic management, and effective coordination of all government and civil interventions. A committee of cabinet members guides the council.
In November 2002, the Zambian Parliament passed a national AIDS bill, which, among other things, makes the National HIV/AIDS/STD/TB Council a legal body that may solicit funding. The national council is guided by a strategic framework (2001-03), with the following priorities:
mobilization of multisectoral response
behavior change: abstinence, mutual fidelity, or condom use
reduction of high risk behaviors (e.g., multiple partners, sexual cleansing)
increased and improved STI prevention and control
destigmatization of HIV/AIDS
increased VCT
reduced MTCT of HIV
improved HBC and support to PWHA
community-based support to orphans and OVC
improved drug supply for treatment of STIs and TB, and for HIV-positive clients
Several Zambian ministries (such as the ministries of education, defense, information and broadcasting service, agriculture, food and fisheries, tourism) have all adopted workplace programs to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among their staff, train peer educators, and distribute condoms. However, budget constraints are impeding full implementation of these work plans.
Source: Lisa Garbus “HIV/AIDS in Zambia” Country AIDS Policy Analysis Project, AIDS Policy Research Center, University of California San Francisco March, 2003)
National AIDS Council: Rosemary Musonda, Acting Director General, NAC Tel: 261-1-255-044, 260-9-7777-5732(cell), email: musonda@zamnet.zm
Zambia Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (ZBCA), ZANACO 4th Floor, P.O.Box 31026, Lusaka, Zambia. The Board Secretary, Tel: 261 1 220801 Fax: 220802, zbcas@zamtel.zm
Zambia National AIDS Network, P.O. Box 32401, Lusaka. Tel: 260-1-231153
Population Services International/Society For Family Health, ZIHP-SOM, Plot 39, Central Street, P. O. Box 50770, Lusaka. Tel: 260-1-292443, Fax 260-1-292463, E-mail: sfh@zamnet.zm
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