Multi-sectoral
Response to HIV and AIDS
Decentralized Response
At the provincial level, the Provincial AIDS Task Force (PATF) , a sub-committee of the Provincial Development Coordinating Committee, coordinates, supervises, and monitors the implementation of HIV/AIDS policies and programs in the province. Similarly, the District AIDS Task Force (DATF), a sub-committee of the District Development Coordinating Committee, undertakes the same functions at the district level. Additionally, the DATF facilitates training, resource mobilization, advocacy, information collection and dissemination, research, and other activities that cannot efficiently or effectively be carried out by any one member. Various structures – such as Neighbourhood Health Committees, area/resident development committees, and other community-based groups – implement HIV/AIDS programmes at the community and village levels.
Civil Society Response
The Civil Society plays a significant role in strengthening the multi-sectoral response to the HIV, AIDS, STI and TB. They are key players in complimenting the activities of other sectors through interventions that focus on prevention, treatment, care and support, mitigation of impact, promotion of human rights and advocacy. These include elements of mainstreaming, decentralization, and outreach and community participation. The Civil Society is considered to include Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) as well as special interest groups such as Persons Living with HIV and AIDS (PLHAs), traditional healers, youth and persons living with disabilities (DPOs).
The Civil society organizations are frequently credited with developing interventions that are innovative, socially and culturally appropriate as well as cost effective. Successive evaluations of civil society projects indicate that projects can be successful in extending tom rural and underserved and hard-to-reach communities, whilst including important elements of community participation and accountability. Grand disbursement agencies such as Community Response to AIDS (CRAIDS), the Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN), and the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) increasingly require civil society projects to include income generation activities (IGAs) in order to improve sustainability and contribute to impact mitigation.
 See Civil Society Links
Youth Organizations Response
Youth Civil Society organizations with support from international agencies and NGOs, have included HIV/AIDS and reproductive health components in their programs. A snap survey among youth serving organizations indicate that HIV/AIDS has been a major component of their mandates and programs. Records provided by major Principal Recipients show that ZANARA has supported 60, Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) 12 while ZNAN has supported 29 through out the country in urban and rural settings. The interventions supported focused on youth education and support to OVCs. In addition to channeling resources through these organizations, community based organizations implementing projects in their localities have been supported. These are either registered as CBOs or operating under establishments of the Health Centers of Faith based Organizations. These are widespread and found in remote parts of the country.
Recently five externally founded organizations have come together under The Big Five banner in order to achieve effective participation in the fight against HIV/AIDS. These include the Young Women’s Christian Association; Young Men’s Christian Association; Boy Scouts Association; Girl Guide Association and the Zambia Red Cross Society. The US government through PEPFAR has committed USD 1.35 million for five years from 2004 to 2008 to the programs.
There are over 250 youth organizations registered in different forms through out the country under the National Youth Development Council (NYDC). About 10 of these have HIV/AIDS programs. The Forum for Youth Organizations has on its register over 200 youth organizations. The two organizations have the mandate to promote and coordinate youth activities of members.
In November 2005, NAC convened a national consultative and sharing of best practices workshop in which young people identified a number of challenges relating to meaningful youth participation in decision-making and national HIV/AIDS interventions. Further to the workshop, a strategy and action plan were developed to strengthen youth coordination and representation with a particular focus on strengthening of the Youth Forum for Youth Organizations - Zambia (FYOZ), which is legally mandated to represent the youth in NAC and related structures.
NAC is now closely with the Forum for Youth organizations as well as the National Youth development Council (NYDC), the UNFPA supported African Network of Adolescents and the Youth for Population and Development to further this initiative.
See all Youth Orgnisation links
Persons with Disability Response
Persons with disability are frequently a forgotten minority in the national response to HIV/AIDS. Nevertheless persons with disability are an important stakeholder group that may be particularly vulnerable to infection and susceptible to its impact. Recognizing the importance of persons with disability as a stakeholder group, NAC has established a process of consultation with them that includes workshops, meetings and discussions.
Traditional Leaders Response
The role of Traditional Leaders in mobilizing effective community responses to HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB is increasingly being recognized. In 2005, a number of significant initiatives were undertaken by the Royal Foundation of Zambia (RFZ). The RFZ is a non-profit NGO that was established in 1995 by a group of traditional leaders. It is an umbrella organization for the 286 chiefdoms in the country and has a 13-membership National Executive Committee (NEC). The overall mandate of the Royal Foundation of Zambia is to foster national unity and development through active participation in the promotion of democracy and good governance, human rights, socio-economic development, as well as addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
In 2005, a series of provincial workshops was convened by RFZ to identify and discuss negative cultural practices that contribute to HIV transmission. Follow-up action plans were prepared and declarations made to address negative practices.
Traditional Health Practitioners Response
In 2005 the Traditional Health Practitioners bill was developed to regulate the establishment of the Traditional Health Practitioners Council who would in turn be responsible for regulating the practice of traditional medicine in the country. In the same vein, a sub-group on Alternative Remedies under the Treatment, Care and Support Theme group exists to provide technical support on how to integrate traditional and alternative remedies into the management of HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB in Zambia. In 2005, the NAC worked collaboratively with Ministry of Health to support analysis of 18 herbal formulations prepared by traditional healers in order to analyze them for anti-HIV-1 activity. To date, two (2) of the formulations have shown some anti-HIV-1 activity but the experiments are not yet conclusive and further analysis is in progress.
Private and Public Sectors Response
The National AIDS Council builds upon the current private sector portfolio by encouraging companies to undertake workplace initiatives and to mainstream HIV and AIDS into their day to day work. The Private sector accounts for an estimated 58.6% of formally employed workforce in Zambia. There are a growing number of Zambian companies undertaking innovative practices in the workplace across prevention, treatment care and support. Access to these services is now being extended families and communities in which they are located. The design and implementation of workplace programs in companies and businesses have been largely supported by the private sector NGO network known as the Zambia Workplace AIDS Partnership (ZWAP). This network comprises Afya Mzuri, AWISA, ZBCA, Comprehensive HIIV/AIDS Management Program (CHAMP) and the Zambia Health Education and Communication Trust (ZHECT). Other self coordinating groups within the private sector include:
- Zambia Association Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI),
- Zambia Chambers of Small and Medium Business Association (ZCSMBA),
- Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU),
- Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU),
- Drivers Association of Zambia (DAZ); and
- The Global Development Alliance (GDA)
In 2006, survey data was collected from over 60 organizations implementing employer-based HIV/AIDS services. This information served as a baseline for the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Framework 2006-2010. It also alerted the DATFs and PATFs to those companies and clinics located in their respective catchment areas. The survey also resulted into the creation of a workplace database which forms part of the overall NAC Management Information Systems The workplace database is designed to store and analyze for the both annual directory and provide quarterly workplace statistics. The directory provides company contact as well as an overview of the HIV and AIDS services provided by employers for their workforce as well as the For-Profit Medical clinics providing such services. The directory is updated annually to record the up take of services by more companies.
The workplaces include Line Ministries who are empowered to develop and implement HIV/AIDS policies, strategies, and interventions using their comparative advantage. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture uses its extensive extension network to reach farmers and fishermen/women with HIV/AIDS information and services. The Ministry of Education targets in-school youth with behavioral change messages and helps them provide orphans with opportunities to attend school.
See Private Sector Links
See Line Ministries Links
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