Lusaka, October 9, 2008 -- One of Africa’s best performing health projects, the Zambia National Response to HIV/AIDS (ZANARA), successfully concluded its work on August 31, 2008, after meeting all of its development targets.
The Makole Community School
The $42 million project, financed by a grant from the World Bank’s International Development Agency, began work in 2002 to help Zambia fight its worst enemies, HIV and AIDS.
The project design was based on a new approach to addressing HIV/AIDS: supporting and strengthening community-based responses to the epidemic, nationwide.
The strategy proved to be highly successful. It included government commitment and ownership through the Ministry of Health, and high levels of public participation. Its four components were:
support for Community Response to HIV/AIDS (CRAIDS), through the financing of community based organizations;
support to the National AIDS Council and Secretariat;
support to 21 government line ministries in order to mainstream HIV/AIDS related activities into their work programs, and to the Ministry of health for implementation activities; and
program administration.
Indicator
Baseline (2003)
Progress to date (2008)
% of teenagers who are mothers or pregnant with their first child
59.4
31.6
% of males (15-24yrs) who reported condom use at last sex with non-regular sexual partner
30
45
% of females (15-24yrs) who reported condom use at last sex with non-regular sexual partner
17
29
Median age at first sex for age group 15-24 yrs
16.5
18.5
Primary school enrollment rates for orphans and vulnerable children
11.1
21
The CRAIDS component showed exceptional performance. A total of 1080 community projects were successfully funded at a cost of $14.3 million. The total exceeded project targets of providing funding to 350 community projects. Each project received an average of $12,000.
Of the projects funded, 72 were given second-round funding in order to scale up successful interventions.
Looking after the vulnerable
Kilelabanda, in rural Solwezi about 500 miles northwestof Lusaka, was one of these projects.
As part of the project, an old abandoned government building was rehabilitated into the Makole Community School. The project was spearheaded by a group of grandmothers and widows who care for children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. With the support of CRAIDS, the grandmothers offer a school feeding program and have built, with the help of Kansanshi Mines, a state of the art dormitory.
Zelita, a graduate of the Makole Community School in Solwezi
Eighth grader Zelita lost both her parents to HIV/AIDS and is being raised by her grandmother, one of the founders of the Makole School and the Kilelabanda orphanage. Kilelabanda means “looking after the vulnerable.” Zelita recently graduated from the orphanage school and is has moved on to school in Solwezi.
“I couldn’t have managed this education if the group of grandmothers were not supported by CRAIDS to rebuild the school,” Zelita says with a broad smile. “I am sure many orphans who pass though the school like me will make something with their lives.”
The results of Zambia’s efforts to fight HIV/AIDS According to preliminary results of the 2007 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), Zambia is moving in the "right' direction:
The country has experienced a reduction in HIV prevalence among antenatal women younger than 20 years old by four percentage points from 12.6 percent in 2002 to 8.7 percent in 2007, over and above the set target of 15 percent.
There has also been a reduction in national adult HIV prevalence by two percentage points from 16 percent in 2002 to 14.3 percent in 2007.
The program also had a direct impact on the civil service. Forty one public sector line ministries and government departments now have HIV workplace policies in place and are implementing successful workplace HIV program.
The grandmothers of Solwezi
As a result, Zambia is attracting major HIV and AIDS funding to enhance the fight. This in part is thanks to the establishment by ZANARA of transparency mechanism that allows the funding of HIV/AIDS programs through government structures.
Zambia’s national HIV/AIDS program, with ZANARA’s support, also has shown successes: more than three million male condoms have been distributed; and coverage of districts with functioning HIV/AIDS task forces and HIV support groups has gone from 0 to 100 percent.
RSS