Zambia is also one of the countries hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic, with close to 16 percent of the adult population (15-49) estimated to be HIV-positive (UNAIDS reported Zambian HIV-prevalence at 21.5 percent in 2002, but a more recent estimate is lower). The impact of the epidemic has been exacerbated by the prolonged drought and the fact that it is mainly concentrated in young adults - more than two-thirds of the HIV-positive population is under 30 years of age. The AIDS epidemic has also led to a rapid increase in the number of TB cases reported in the country. Malaria is also a major contributor to the disease burden in Zambia, with over 34,000 notified cases of malaria per 100,000 population each year.

Sources: BBC News country profile, Synergy Project, United Nations Statistics Division

Zambia is also one of the pioneer countries in sub-Saharan Africa to develop a multi-sectoral response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In part, this has happened because leaders have recognised that AIDS affects the development effort in virtually all sectors. The government now has a AIDS/STD/TB Council that coordinates the fight against AIDS, STIs and TB in Zambia and implements the national HIV/AIDS/STD/TB strategic plan. In late 2002 Zambia was the first country in the world to launch SAM, an affordable anti-retroviral AIDS drug with a cost of $60 per year. In mid-2004 6,000 Zambians are receiving ARV treatments, but only 800 of them are women. Women make up an estimated 70 percent of HIV infected persons in Zambia.

In response to malaria and a growing problem of chloroquine resistance, in 2003 Zambian health authorities turned to a new drug, Coartem. This drug is a combination of Lumefantrine and a smaller amount of Artemether. Early results with Coartem are reported to be promising.

Sources: DFID - Zambia Country Health Briefing Paper; AllAfrica.com, Panos Features (London), August 10, 2004

Demographic data contained in this section was obtained from the following sources: The Population Reference Bureau’s 2009 World Population Data Sheet was used for total population, life expectancy at birth, infant mortality, fertility, birth rate, death rate, % of married women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception, % of population 15-49 with HIV/AIDS in 2007/2008, and the GNI PPP per capita (2008). Literacy rates were found in the Population Reference Bureau’s publication 2005 Women of Our World. HIV prevalence data for 2001 and 2003 was obtained from the UNAIDS Barcelona 2002 report; HIV prevalence and orphan data for 2005 was obtained from the UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic 2006. Data on the % women who have discussed AIDS prevention with their husband or partner can be found in ORC Macro and USAID’s Women’s Lives and Experiences: Changes in the Past Ten Years (Research Findings from the Demographic and Health Surveys). Childhood malaria mortality data was accessed in 2003 from the United Nations Statistics Divisions’ Millennium Indicators. Tuberculosis data was obtained from the United Nations Statistics Division’s Millennium Indicators: MDGInfo 2006. In some cases information was unavailable.

Sources: WHO, TravMed

Chainama Hills College Hospital

Tropical Disease Research Centre

It is a parastatal under the Ministry of Health with the mandate to conduct epidemiological and clinical research in malaria, schistosomiasis African trypanosomiasis, HIV/AIDS, micronutrient deficiencies, health systems research, health impact and evaluation, training and service.

Source: University of Zambia Medical Library

University of Zambia, School of Medicine

1. Through the Zambia National Response to HIV/AIDS (ZANARA) initiative, the government is planning to significantly increase the provision of anti-retroviral drugs to its population. The government plans to start the provision of free drugs on a pilot basis in Lusaka and Ndola and later on spread to the rest of the country.