Economic Downturn Threatens to Derail Anti-Aids Programme

14 May 2011

CECILY’S Fund Charity and its supporters have expressed concern at the possible threat of derailment the global economic downturn could pose to progress being made in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Cecily’s Fund, a United Kingdom-based charity that enables less privileged children to go to school in Zambia, with a particular focus on those orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS, works closely with the Zambia High Commission in London.

Speaking at a discussion and reception event held at British Parliament Houses in Westminster, London, on Tuesday, the panelists, Russell Brown, who is the shadow British minister of Defence and vice-chair of the All-Parliamentary Group (APPG) on HIV/AIDS, Zambian-born Sky News presenter Lukwesa Burak, Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha and SABMiller Group HIV and AIDS consultant Jenni Gillies expressed concern that the existing progressive interventions may be reversed by the global economic downturn.

This is according to a statement released yesterday by second secretary for Press at the Zambian High Commission in London, Rejoice Lukumba.

The panel was happy with improvements made by Zambia in the fight against HIV/AIDS through the roll-out anti-retroviral therapy (ART) which brought AIDS-related deaths in children down by 50 per cent in 2004.

Mr Lukumba said leading the discussion, Mr Brown, the Labour member of Parliament for Dumfries and Galloway appealed for global political will to ensure that the progress that was being made in the fight against HIV/AIDS in countries like Zambia was not reversed as a result of economic difficulties.

The panel cited the UNAIDS’ review of November 2009 which found that the global economic crisis was having a tangible effect on HIV responses in low-income countries following the decrease in the amount of foreign aid and investment, as well as the demand for exports, commodity prices and national revenue which led to an increased unemployment.

“In Zambia, almost three-quarters of the money for HIV/AIDS programmes come from foreign donors and as the pressures increase for recipient governments to become more sustainable, money is more likely to be channelled away from HIV projects and into other areas of their economies,” the panel observed.

At the same event, Ms Burak, who was nominated to serve as HIV/AIDS goodwill ambassador to raise awareness among media practitioners, urged activists to put strong news sense and recognise what made a good story to attract journalists’ interests.

Cecily’s Fund was set up by Basil and Alison Eastwood in September 1998 in memory of their 19-year-old daughter Cecily, who died in a road accident while working with AIDS orphans in Zambia.

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