- Title: ZAMBIA: Zambia gets AIDS funds boost during U.S First Lady Laura Bush visit
- Date: 30th June 2007
- Summary: HANDS WITH GLOVES CAREGIVER EXAMINING PATIENT CAREGIVERS DEMONSTRATING HOW TO PUT MOSQUITO NET WOMAN SLEEPING UNDER A MOSQUITO NET
- Embargoed: 15th July 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Zambia
- Country: Zambia
- Topics: International Relations,Social Services / Welfare
- Reuters ID: LVABEGWN7Y5F37HOYPPXOP9UO8O7
- Story Text: Laura Bush was in Zambia on Thursday (June 28) as part of her Africa tour, to check on projects funded by the US government under the presidential emergency fund. During her visit the US pledged more money to fight AIDS in the African country. Zambia will receive an extra 266 million US dollars to help fight AIDS, officials said on Thursday (June 28), as first lady, Laura Bush, began her visit to the Africa country.
The US, which initially planned to give Zambia 534 million US dollars in the first four years of the United States President's 2003 Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has raised the amount to 800 million US dollars to cover five years.
Laura Bush began a tour of the country to check on US-funded AIDS and malaria projects as part of a four nation African tour and was in Lusaka on Thursday handing out bicycles to volunteers who take care of sick people in their communities.
She is particularly happy with efforts by African women towards the fight against HIV/AIDS.
"I am pleased to announce that UNAIDS (United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS) and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, are providing 300,000 U.S dollars to support the important work of the organisation of African first ladies against AIDS," she said.
Zambia numbers among the southern African countries worst affected by Africa's HIV/AIDS pandemic, with an estimated one in five of the nation's 11.7 million people carrying the virus.
Laura Bush also noted young children, pregnant mothers and HIV patients were among the most vulnerable to malaria related deaths.
"Through the Zambian partnership 500,000 mosquito nets will be distributed to the country's most vulnerable households before the next malaria season in November. They will reach about a million young children, pregnant mothers and people infected with HIV/AIDS," said Mrs Bush.
Malaria kills more people than AIDS every year in Zambia.
Communities in the rural areas, where there is little access to hospitals and regular hospital check ups, have come up with a caregivers' network with around 15,000 men and women looking after relatives and neighbours in an effort largely seen as successful.
Emily Shakumbila is a caregiver in her community and feels she is giving back to her society by helping those in need.
"Because of experiencing problems in my own house so I have a heart of helping others also," said Shakumbila.
More than 25 million people globally have died of AIDS, an incurable disease that ravages the body's immune system, since it was first recognised more than a quarter of a century ago.
About 40 million people live with HIV, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the virus is spread primarily through heterosexual sex. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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