Health Care for 500 HIV+ Children in Zambia

A Unique Year

2020 was a year filled with challenges. Several programmatic changes were made so we could continue the provision of health care services to children and their families. We are happy to report that no child got infected with COVID as all program activities were completed in a safe manner. Given below are a few highlights of the achievements of children and families in 2020, and our plans for 2021.

Program Activities and achievements in 2020

• Our Zambian team, their families, and all children and families enrolled were provided with education on COVID, and PPE.
• All 450 HIV+ children enrolled received food, medicines and a comprehensive package of life saving health care services. All children are stable, improving in health and most have undetectable viral loads.
• 156 children were provided with funds for school expenses such as fees, uniforms, shoes, and book bags.
• All families received long lasting insecticide treated bed nets to prevent malaria.
• Launched an innovative program that provides clean cooking stoves and training regarding proper use of stoves to families. The clean cooking stoves are environmentally friendly, generate less smoke, use less fuel, and can be used as an income generating asset. More than 7,000 families have received these stoves resulting in an improvement in health and lower fuel expenses.

 For 2021 our plan is to:

• Provide an additional 10,000 clean cooking stoves to vulnerable families to bring the total to 17,000 stoves by the end of this year.
• Add 50 HIV+ children to bring the total to 500 children and their families. Train families of new children in basic nursing and in caring for an HIV+ child.
• Launch a program to create family gardens. Training will be provided by professionals.
• Provide food, and lifesaving health care services to 500 children and increase the quantity of food received to families.
• Provide funds for school expenses to 160 children.
• Launch a community wide adherence program for adolescents and young adults.

About Zambia

Zambia is a country with 55% of its population living below the national poverty line and a high prevalence of HIV and malaria. Moreover, 53% of its population is under the age of 18 with a median age of 17 years (one of the lowest globally). According to UNICEF, 41% of Zambian children suffer from at least three deprivations (lack access to nutrition, education, health, water, sanitation, adequate housing). Our goal is to provide nutrition, health care, and education to vulnerable children living with HIV. 

Thanks for giving the gift of health and an opportunity to attend school to hundreds of vulnerable children in Zambia.

Links:

• Impact of our Pediatric HIV Care Program in 2020 and Plans
• Families are enjoying their clean cooking stoves
• About Training Provided to Family Members