By ENOCK NGOMA – LAST week, I received the following statement from the American Embassy in Lusaka:
The United States and Zambian governments officially launched our joint Zambia Family (ZAMFAM) activities that target orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and people living with HIV (PLHIV) in four provinces in Zambia.
Through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with funding provided by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), ZAMFAM seeks to help 225,000 OVC and 40,000 PLHIV over the life of the activity.  Between 2015 and 2020, the US Government will invest more than $48 million through the USAID ZAMFAM activities.
Recognising the need for action in its revised Sixth National Development Plan, the Government of the Republic of Zambian addressed the critical necessity for social protection for the most vulnerable of the nation’s population, including OVC and vulnerable youth.  In response, USAID designed the Zambia Family activities to strengthen families and caregivers, community-based organisations, and public structures in order to enhance the quality of OVC services while supporting HIV epidemic control in Zambia.
“ZAMFAM’s approach is to identify families and caregivers that face daily challenges in caring for orphans and vulnerable children, as well as people living with HIV/AIDS,” remarked USAID Mission Director Michael Yates.  “In close partnership with the Zambian Government, we then bring support services to families and guardians, as we strengthen their ability to care for family members and those in need.”
The USAID Zambia Family activity is divided into two, targeting multiple provinces:  ZAMFAM Copperbelt-Lusaka and ZAMFAM South-Central.  The twin activities will work in close collaboration with the Zambian Government and other stakeholders to promote strong coordination, improve social welfare and health systems, and strengthen sustainable service delivery.
Both ZAMFAM activities build on preceding USAID projects supporting Zambia’s vulnerable populations affected by HIV and AIDS, specifically the Zambia Rising, Community Rising, and Data Rising activities and the Sustainability Through Economic Strengthening, Prevention, and Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (STEPS OVC) activity which operates through February 2016.
Between 2015 and 2020, the U.S. Government will invest more than $48 million through the USAID ZAMFAM activities, with ZAMFAM Copperbelt-Lusaka being implemented by Expanded Church Response (ECR) and ZAMFAM South-Central being implemented by Development Aid from People to People Zambia (DAPP).
Thanks Zarina Geloo for the statement which shows how the American Government is working together with the Zambian Government in fighting HIV/AIDS.
In the last few weeks I have written about symptoms of HIV and here are a few facts:
Common AIDS symptoms in men include:
swollen lymph glands.
unusual lesions on the tongue; skin rashes and bumps.
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
cough and shortness of breath.
chronic fatigue.
fever, chills, and night sweats.
rapid weight loss.
blurred or distorted vision.
HIV Testing
The only way to tell you have HIV is to get tested for the virus. You cannot rely on symptoms to tell if you are or someone you know is infected. The symptoms of HIV are similar to many other illnesses and many people have no symptoms at all. The symptoms of AIDS are also similar to other diseases. If a person is infected with HIV, the only way to tell if they have progressed to AIDS is to be diagnosed by a doctor using the CDC defined criteria.
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