Impunity Watch, Africa
During the 1960’s, Zambia was the third largest producer of copper and the richest country in the continent of Africa. However, with the world collapse of copper and the devastating affect of AIDS and malaria, Zambia has deteriorated into one of the poorest countries in the world. Millions live on only $1 a day.
Much of the country’s woes are blamed on AIDS, which has killed many of Zambian’s professionals and intellectuals. According to the UN, the average life expectancy for a man or woman is 38 and 37 years old, respectively. Given these statistics, many children are left orphans.
With the help of Bill Clinton and the UNITAID, an international drug funding initiative, the number of Zambian children under treatment has increased by 7,000.
The Bill Clinton Foundation has secured a deal with several drug manufacturers that will reduce the price of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, thereby saving the country over 100 million dollars within three years. A plan to battle the AIDS crisis has been in works for several years. Research in Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa has showed that male circumcision can reduce the risk of HIV infection in males by 60%. Regardless, the rate of infected is disproportionately higher for women.
ADULT AND CHILD HIV RATES IN 2006
| Living with HIV | Newly infected | Deaths from Aids | |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 24.7m | 2.8m | 2.1m |
| World Total | 39.5m | 4.3m | 2.9m |
|
Source: UNAids, all figures estimates |
|||
For more information please see:
BBC – World ‘Losing Fight Against AIDS’ – 23 July 2007
Yahoo – Clinton Clinches Cheap AIDS Drugs Deal for Zambia – 22 July 2007
Yahoo – Zambia to Get Anti-AIDS Drug Boost From Global Fund – 19 July 2007
BBC – Country Profile: Zambia – 04 May 2007
