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Mazabuka Communities Working Together To Help Fight Hiv/Aids
There was general consensus that the strengthening of the local
health system and an efficient communications network between all
the stakeholders would go a long way in helping to fight HIV Aids,
at a recently held workshop held at Mazabuka Tennis Club, and
organised by SAPEP (Simalelo AIDS Peer Education Programme). The
workshop was attended by donor agencies, leaders in the
community, local farmers and health officials. Dr. Victor Mukonka
from the Central Board of Health informed delegates that ARV's (anti
retro viral drugs) were now being freely distributed throughout
Zambia. He pointed out, however, that not everyone with the disease
required ARV medication. Those in the early stages of the disease
just needed to be given a good nutritional programme to follow. It
was pointed out that the danger of giving ARV's to people without
monitoring them was that if people weren't eating properly, they
would simply stop taking the drug.
Farmer's representatives were keen to see an efficient primary
health care system and a mobile clinic put in place to help
alleviate the problem of daily trips in and out of the local
hospitals. The following five year plan for the future was agreed on
by all delegates.
Year one and two: an intensive education programme, the
strengthening of local clinics, a mobile VCT (voluntary counselling
and testing) unit to visit farms and the integration of other health
issues (eg, malaria, safe water etc). Year three: Phase out mobile
VCT as the outreach capacity improves. A midterm evaluation and
review, an assessment for insurance opportunities and an increase in
farmer and worker contribution if possible. Years four and five
would involve strengthening and integration and extending the
operation to the entire Mazabuka/Monze district. Full private and
public partnership in the community.
Kapufi Desperate For Water Tank And Pump
When Kapufi Township, on the outskirts of Mazabuka town, was built
in the mid seventies, residents assumed that an efficient water
system would be put in place by the Town Council who had allocated
the land. The community, consisting of many retired people looking
after orphaned grandchildren and single parent families, have waited
patiently over the years ..... and are still waiting. There are two
hand pumps operating from boreholes in the Township, where over
5,000 residents draw their water. But the system is fraught with
problems as this exercise carries on late into the night. The
present Residents’ Committee, a band of highly committed
individuals, consider this to be one of the main reasons why the
HIV/AIDS rate is so high and why there are so many teenage
pregnancies. Children are left exposed and vulnerable whilst out
collecting water for their families late into the night. The answer
to Kapufi's problems would be a submersible pump, a water tank WITH
a capacity of 30,000 litres and a tank stand. Kapufi Residents’
committee are appealing to the public to help with funding this
exercise. Their chairman, Lishimbo Shamanga, can be contacted on
097 636-992 and their Vice Chairman, Dominic Mubita on 097 489-841
Or email
thomo@zamtel.zm |
September 2005