MoH employ Mother Baby Pack to address HIV in pregnant mothers

Preventing the further spread of HIV is government’s great concern; programmes have been carried out in an effort to reduce the escalating numbers of people living with the virus. Recently, the Ministry of Health launched a new innovation called the Mother Baby Pack, aimed at stopping the transmission of the virus from mother to the baby as VIOLET MENGO reports.

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THE YEAR 2010 was to be a landmark in the global response to HIV and AIDS.

This follows the endorsement by the member states of the United Nations (UN) at the 2005 UN Millennium Summit to reach access to HIV universal treatment, prevention and care.

But it came as no surprise at the July 2010 AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria that this goal is far from being met, despite substantial progress in delivering antiretroviral therapy to those in need.

This is a step backwards in terms of commitments made by political leaders to enhance the fight against HIV. But still a lot is being done to fight the epidemic and help reduce the further spread of the virus especially from mothers to their born babies.

The face of HIV is increasingly young and female. If a woman living with HIV becomes pregnant, there is a 35 percent chance that she will transmit the virus to her newborn if no preventive action is taken.

At the end of 2007, there were over 2.5 million children under age 15 living with HIV, most of whom contracted the virus from their mothers during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding (UNAIDS).

Fortunately, pregnant women who are living with HIV can reduce their chances of passing the virus on to their newborns by 50 percent by taking antiretroviral drugs (UNICEF).

Preventing mother to child transmission of HIV is very critical in saving lives and curbing impact of the epidemic particularly in Sub Saharan Africa where the majority of women living with HIV live and infant mortality remains high.

In Zambia, an innovation called Mother Baby Pack is expected to help reduce the transmission of the virus to the children. The project is being undertaken by the Ministry of Health with its partners complementing on the existing on the existing Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission

The PMTCT programme is a strategy where an HIV pregnant mother is given one type of antiretroviral drug (niverapine) during child birth to reduce the chances of the baby to be born with the virus.

PMTCT in Zambia has been running since1999. From the initial six centres, the programme now runs in more all the districts countrywide.

Zambia has made strides in increasing PMTCT coverage. Government  data  released last December  found that 63 percent of pregnant  women who are living with HIV and AIDS  received  ARV medicines that are highly  successful in blocking  the transmission of HIV from mother to child.

The ministry of health has been happy with the performance of the programme but has in addition introduced the Mother Baby Pack to ensure the safety of both the mother and child.

The aim of the Mother Baby Pack is to increase uptake of ARVs HIV positive pregnant women and reduce the mother to child transmission of HIV.

A Mother Baby Pack is a color coded and pre packaged set of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV medicines. The pack consist of maternal and baby prophylactic anti retroviral (ARVs) medicines and Cotrimoxazole based on the WHO 2010 guidelines.

The medicines comes in a portable box with clear direction for when a mother should take the drugs and also when and how to give them to her new born child. The diagrams and colours are designed to help a mother understand the changing schedule of PMTCT medicines and dosages that she and her infant require during pregnancy, birth and during the child’s first month of life.

Ministry of Health (MoH) PMTCT specialist Dr Maximilliam Bweupe said the Mother Baby Pack aims to address the gaps that have been observed in the implementation of PMTCT services and in the provision of quality continuum of care for pregnant women, mothers and their infants.

Dr Bweupe said the Mother Baby Packs are meant as a vehicle for delivering more officious PMTCT regimens to mother who are living with HIV and AIDS and their children.

He said: “It is gratifying that the provincial heads and districts medical officers have embraced the concept enthusiastically and we look forward to the goal of virtual elimination of HIV in children.”

According to Dr Bweupe, women would be able to get combination of ARVS unlike before when they would only get one type of ARVS.

He said the Mother Baby Pack makes logistics easier because one pack to one mother.

The objective of the mother baby pack is to provide a pre-packed set of PMTCT medicines including co-trimoxazole to help HIV positive pregnant women on first contact at ANC for use from 14 weeks or thereafter, that will cover the ANC, intra partum and post natal period for the woman and her exposed baby.

Through the implementation strategy, reach 10 300 HIV positive women in eight selected districts of Zambia within one year period.

Eight districts have been selected for the pilot of the programmes namely Katete, Chipata, Choma, Luanshya, Chibombo, Chongwe, Kabwe and Kawambwa.

The criteria for selection of the districts included district with health centres providing PMTCT services, presence and support of a strong implementing partner and facilities with community structures supporting the delivery of health services. Districts that have rural and semi-urban facilities with varied geographical accessibility, district that has a high HIV burden and a district with a strong management team.

UNICEF Zambia representative Dr Iyolumun Uhaa said it is forecast that the packs would have a great impact in rural areas where it is more difficult for women to access clinics and hospitals.

MoH spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe encouraged and thanked all partners that have embraced the concept of the Mother Baby Pack and are committed to making it a success.

The Mother Baby Pack is being supported by a broad partnership including Family Health International, the centre for Infectious diseases, Research in Zambia and the Catholic Relief Services.

Elizabeth Glaser country Director in Zambia for Paediatrics AIDS Foundation, Dr Suzan Strasser said the foundation was supporting the Mother Baby Pack initiative because it shows great potential in eliminating HIV infection in children by reducing missed opportunities for care and promoting infant feeding through the use of ARVs during the breastfeeding.

“The Mother Baby Packs provide mothers who are living with HIV with the drugs they need before, during and after giving birth. An important component of the pack is the addition of medicines for the breast fed baby. An HIV positive mother will now be able to breastfeed their newborns more safely with reduced risks of transferring the virus. This will help build an HIV free generation in Zambia, “Dr Strasser.

Zambian Government sms system for HIV test Results

By Violet Nakamba Mengo

HIV-positive Bupe Mwamba, 22, lies next to her newborn baby girl at the rural clinic she just gave birth in and wonders if her baby is HIV-positive too.

She has been for counselling throughout her antenatal check-ups and knows there is a chance her baby girl may be HIV-negative. But it still does not eliminate her fears and anxieties.

"It is a moment of reflection about the future of your child and how your child will cope being HIV-positive. It cannot go without (me feeling) some kind of fear as a human being," she said.

Here at the Chipulukuso rural health centre in Ndola, Zambia's Copperbelt province, when an HIV test was done, blood samples were taken and then transported to a central regional hospital for analysis. The results were then sent back to the rural centre in a process that used to sometimes take up to 10 weeks.

And in the lifetime of a newborn baby, it was valuable time wasted during which the HIV-positive infant could have been placed on antiretroviral treatment (ART).
But Mwamba is fortunate. She will not have to wait so long to know her baby's status.
Because of the delays in sending and receiving HIV test results the ministry of health has piloted a short messaging service (SMS) that will now send HIV results of children less than 18 months back to health centres within three to five days.

The blood sample taken from Mwamba's baby, together with other samples from other rural health centres, are couriered to Ndola Arthur Davison Hospital, the central hospital on the Copperbelt region. Here the blood samples are tested for HIV.

The test results of the infants are then sent back to the health centres via a machine that receives information in the form of short messages. The test results will be printed out and the relevant doctor will be able to pass on the diagnosis to the parent.

Director of Public Health in the ministry of health, Victor Munkonka, is optimistic that the programme, once implemented nationally, will reduce the country's infant mortality rate by more that 50 percent.

Mukonka explained that the delay in administering ART to children who are less than 18 months old was contributing to the high death rates of babies in the country.
"We realised that we were losing many babies because of the delay in testing them for HIV, this is mostly because of lack of proper diagnostic machines to detect the virus in infants," he said. He also noted that those in remote areas had difficulty receiving their results once the blood samples were sent to the central hospital.
Mukonka said the SMS project started in January 2010 at selected health centres located in the rural areas of Zambia's Copperbelt, Central and Northern provinces.
"We are targeting 10 health centres on the pilot project which will be assessed after six months. During this period, tests that are sent to Arthur Davison from these health centres will be sent back using SMS within a short period of time," Mukonka said.
Mukonka said the SMS system will save infants' lives through prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Media Network on Child Rights and Development chairperson Felistus Chipako said the decision by the ministry of health to introduce the SMS to address paediatric HIV is a good development.

Chipako said Zambia has in the recent past struggled to address child mortality, which is among the highest in Sub Saharan Africa. Zambia's 2008 Demographic Health Survey showed the country's under-5 mortality rate was 119 deaths per 1,000 live births.

She said the intervention would help treat HIV-positive children in a more prompt manner than has been the case. "The system also calls for intensive counselling for mothers on how to handle the whole thing when given the results," she added.

Mwamba, however, said that the new method of receiving results was exciting, and that she was looking forward to the service working quickly.

Mwamba was discharged the day after her delivery and was scheduled to return to hospital with her baby for a check-up a week later.
When she returned seven days later, she also received the results of her child's HIV test.
Her baby girl is HIV-negative.
"I feel relieved that my baby is HIV negative, I spent the past six days pondering about what life would have been like for the little one living with the virus," Mwamba said.

However, Mwamba was encouraged to bring back her daughter for another HIV test when she is three months, then at six months and finally at 18 months for the last test. This is done to ensure that the baby is truly negative, since Mwamba is breastfeeding her baby.

"I am positive that the project will work if the health staff remain committed to it," she said.
Mumba said she cannot forget the fear, pain and anxiety in waiting for her baby's test results.

Journalist called to step up in the fight against HIV and TB

By Violet Nakamba Mengo
Journalists must do more to report effectively on HIV, AIDS and TB issues in Africa, according to prominent health organisations.

Speaking at an international training workshop for journalists in Cape Town, South Africa on Thursday, Anthony Harries, head of the Paris-based health organisation International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) challenged the media to be responsible for highlighting the pandemic.

“TB is a major killer in Africa,” Harries said. “A lot is still required to be done. Journalists write on it and speak on it, for the African continent to change.”

Awarding wining health experts concurred with a call from journalists demanding African governments to appoint HIV and AIDS ministers to specifically look on the epidemic. Harries, however, declined to be drawn to the political will behind the matter.

The four-day workshop, organised by National Press Foundation (NPF) under its Journalist-to-Journalist programme, is aimed at training journalists on how to report on HIV and AIDS. Fifty-six journalists from around the world gathered for the Cape Town, South Africa training in preparation of the 5th International AIDS Society Conference on AIDS pathogenesis, treatment and prevention that starts on 19 July.
IUATLD is an international union against TB and lung disease. Its mission is to bring innovation, expertise, solutions and support to address health in low and middle income populations.

The union has its headquarters in Paris and regional country offices serving the Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and South East Asia regions. Its science departments focus on tuberculosis, HIV, lung health and non communication diseases, tobacco control and research.
Harries also emphasised the urgent need for new tools in early TB detection.

“We need a new diagnostic tool for TB that will allow quick detection of the diseases just like the rapid diagnostic for AIDS,” he said.

Harries said for a long time the TB detection tool has in some cases failed to identify the disease in its infancy until when the disease is in the advanced stage.

School Policy for Teen Mothers a Partial Success

By Violet Nakamba Mengo

Naomi Mulenga is determined to beat the odds by finishing her school education and becoming a nurse - despite being a teenage mother.

At 13, she is the mother of a seven-month-old baby she raises on her own since the father denies responsibility for the child.

Mulenga says she feels bitter about the turn of events in her life, especially because she also heads a household since her parents' death in 2007, and takes care of a younger brother and sister.

Lack of parental guidance coupled with sexual inexperience and peer pressure landed Mulenga in the arms of a young man who promised her marriage, but instead made her pregnant and abandoned her.

Luckily, Mulenga's teachers were understanding and encouraged her to attend school until she gave birth and to return after the delivery of the baby. She currently attends grade eight at Kanakashi Basic School in Kasama, in Zambia's Northern Province, where she is one of the top pupils in her class.

"When the (exam) results came out in January, I was among the girls selected for grade eight. I was happy but also saddened because I did not have the money (to continue to go to school," Mulenga recalled.

Eventually, she was offered a bursary to finish secondary school and enroll for tertiary education through the department of education's Girls Re-entry Policy aimed specifically at teenage mothers. She also received an additional child support grant for poor households.

Mulenga says she is working extra hard to show other girls in similar situations that falling pregnant does not have to be the end of the road. While she is at school, her six-year-old sister takes care of the baby.

Deputy Minister of Education, Clement Sinyinda, explains the Re-Entry Policy tries to address gender
inequalities that have disadvantaged girls from accessing education in the country for many years. The policy is part of a wider strategy to improve education for girls, he explained.

Until 1997, pregnant girls were expelled from Zambian schools, while teenage fathers were not held responsible.

The numbers of teenage pregnancies have been on a steady increase countrywide, according to the education department, with 9,111 reported pregnancies of school-going girls in 2005, compared to 12,370 in 2008.

But thanks to the financial support offered through the Re-entry Policy and the child support grant, more than a third of those teenage mothers returned to school after giving birth, the department noted.

"The ministry is seriously trying to address the challenges of girls becoming pregnant whilst in school," promised Sinyinda. Apart from financial support, strategies include career guidance and counseling sessions, as well as sexual education, he says.

However, the deputy minister admitted that while the Re-entry Policy has helped to increase school enrolment of girls, achieving universal access to education for all still remains a big challenge - not only due to teenage pregnancy, but also because of widespread poverty.

To assist all poor children in the country, government offered almost 95,000 children in grades one to nine bursaries in 2008, with half of them being awarded to girls. This is a more than ten percent increase in bursaries since 2005.

"The provision of a bursary to support orphans and vulnerable children is another intervention to promote the participation of children who could not afford the cost of education," Sinyinda explained.

Permanent secretary of the ministry of tourism, environment and natural resources, Lillian Kapulu, agrees that the Re-entry Policy needs to be combined with a more general educational grant to give all children a second chance at life. "It is difficult, in villages, for parents to find money for school fees and uniforms, so many force their children out of school after grade seven," she said.

But despite the financial support, many teenage mothers continue to drop out of school because they find it difficult to balance their education and the obligations that come with being a parent, notes Kapulu.

Mulenga confirms that life has remained tough. The grant of 30 dollars a month is hardly enough to pay for the daily needs of her siblings, her baby and herself, she says. To put food on the table, she plants maize and vegetables on a small piece of land next to her house.

"It is difficult to be both a parent and a student, because sometimes you lose concentration, especially when the baby is not well and you are in school," Mulenga told IPS.

Unfortunately, one additional avenue of support - an education programme for teenage mothers run by American non-profit organisation Family Health Trust (FHT) - was closed down at the end of last year.

FHT's Community Health and Nutrition, Gender and Education Support (CHANGES) programme ran for three years and helped more than 3,500 teenage mothers to return to school, says FHT acting programmes manager Kilby Lungu.

Zambia tacles CARMMA

By Violet Mengo, 

It is one of the most depressing to lose a life due to preventable health causes, worse off for a mother loosing her life in order to give life. However, this is a reality for thousands of expectant mothers the world over that have continued to die everyday from complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth.

Death of mothers due to known and mostly avoidable causes at delivery reduces by almost half chances of survival of their new babies. Statistics on the number of women and newborn babies dying from preventable causes around the world have shown that tackling maternal complications remain a challenge for many countries.

In Africa, the maternal mortality rate continues to be one of the continent‘s major health problems. The rate remains high despite political commitment evidenced by the adoption of various policies and strategies.

These include the Cairo Consensus in 1994, Maputo Plan of Action in 2006 and the African Health Strategy 2007 to 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

While several countries have managed to record some successes in addressing maternal health, a lot remains to be done in ensuring that every woman’s right to health and life is upheld.

Better health facilities will entail that every woman, regardless of location, station in life, experiences safe motherhood and that her life and that of her baby are saved within 42 hours following delivery.

The major causes of maternal death are from various medical complications including hemorrhage, sepsis, eclampsia, obstructed labour, abortion and other direct and indirect causes, notably cultural and traditional practices.

Neonatal sepsis is a serious blood bacterial infection in an infant less than four weeks of age while eclampsia is a condition in pregnancy characterised by abrupt hypertension.

Adolescent pregnancy, harmful traditional practices, low social status of women and high fertility rate, low male involvement  and participation in reproduction health, poverty and HIV and AIDS contribute significantly to maternal deaths.

The causes of new born deaths include sepsis, tetanus, diarrhea, preterm and asphyxia (impaired or impeded breathing). Other causes are complications during pregnancy and delivery, poor care of newborns at household level, inadequate health care for sick newborns and poverty.

The African Union’s response to tackling maternal mortality was the 2009 launch of the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction on Maternal Mortality for Africa (CARMMA) with the theme: Africa Cares, no woman should die while giving birth.

The CARMMA concept aims to accelerate and scale up high impact interventions through high level advocacy and sensitisation. And because of the direct impact the campaigns has on individual countries in terms of reducing maternal mortality rate, many African countries including Zambia, have adopted and are localising CARMMA.

Zambia launched CARMMA in June 2010, joining Ethiopia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Malawi and Swaziland. For Zambia CARMMA means raising awareness among Zambians on maternal mortality and how it can be prevented.

The campaign also aims to raise the profile of maternal mortality to elicit the vital high political will and commitment at national level and accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality.

The implementation of CARMMA includes safe motherhood activities in selected districts of the country, family planning, postnatal care and using men in advocacy at antenatal clinics.

Zambia, one of the countries with the highest maternal mortality in the world, has recorded a decrease in maternal mortality from 729 to 591 per 100 000 live births. The neonatal mortality rate is at 34 per 1000 live births.

In Zambia, the first lady Thandiwe Banda is making tremendous impact on the lives of women. As soon as her husband, President Rupiah Banda won the 2008 elections and assumed office, the first lady set to work and has contributed tremendously in improving health care delivery in Zambia.

She is the patron for CARMMA and has been traveling throughout the country to promote the campaign.

“We aim to ensure that the lives of mothers and babies are saved before, during and after delivery as poor maternal and newborn health have diverse consequences and impact negatively on the development of any nation, Mrs Banda said.

The first lady said it was unfortunate that hundreds of women and newborn babies continue to die every day from preventable causes.

She said it was important for all people to get involved and advocate for improved health services for expectant mothers and newborn in Zambia.

However in order to reap the intended benefits, strengthen policy and programmatic environment to accelerate the attainment of MDG four and five, the campaign has incorporated some stakeholders such as media, private sector, NGO and business house.

Ministry of Health Director Public Health Dr Victor Mukonka said it was important to highlight progress and challenges affecting maternal mortality so that women can be educated on the importance of seeking healthcare service when they fall pregnant.

About K16 billion has been set aside for the effective implementation of CARMMA.

In Zambia expectant mothers are discouraged from carrying their own bucket and use the ones provided by hospitals. The directive was made by Minister of Health Kampembwa Simbao.

“We shall no longer allow pregnant mothers to go with buckets to hospitals when the time for delivery comes, all hospitals have been stocked with enough buckets for expectant mothers,” the minister said.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr Kamoto Mbewe said the decision to make women's and children's health the theme of this summit was a sign Africa's policymakers are getting the message.

"Issues of maternal mortality need the urgent action of our heads of state if we are to reverse the negative image of women dying on our continent," said Dr Mbewe.

He said the health of women is important and must be protected. Health women contribute to Zambia’s economy.

He said “it is important to scale up interventions and sensitise people on the interventions. This is the only way they will be able to make informed decisions on their health.

To improve the health status of women and children, Zambia needs to accelerate effective interventions against maternal mortality.

The country  risks losing investments not less than K1 trillion if no improvement is made in maternal health.

Zambian First Lady urges women to demand safe sex

By Violet Mengo

Zambian first Lady Maureen Mwanawasa is encouraging women to demand safer sex from their partners, not negotiate for it. Ms Mwanawasa recently made the statement at the launch of the FC2 female condom campaign at the Lusaka City Market, handing out condoms to the public.


"Negotiating for safer sex is a term that has become accepted world wide, yet, it puts a woman at the mercy of a man," Ms Mwanawasa told the Lusaka market crowd. "I do not believe that a woman should negotiate for safer sex, but demand safer sex."

Ms Mwanawasa added that safer sex is achievable if leaders, and women themselves, take up the challenge. Ms Mwanawasa's statements point out how important women's empowerment and gender equality is to reducing the escalating numbers of women living with HIV.

With World AIDS Day just less than a month away, the new product is a welcome addition to the market in the country. Zambia, like other countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa, is struggling to cope with the impact of HIV/AIDS. Women are the hardest hit.

At the end of 2005, UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation estimated that in Zambia 17 percent of people aged 15-49 years old were living with HIV or AIDS. Of these million adults, 57 percent were women. Young women aged 15-19 are around six times more likely to be living with HIV than are males of the same age.

One of the reasons for greater vulnerability is gender inequality. Women disproportionately bear the burden of poverty and continue to be victims of widespread and persistent discrimination in all areas of life. They are also the primary agents of child welfare and put their lives at risk every time they become pregnant.

Zambian gender activists hold that women also play an indispensable role in the management of natural resources, economic development, and education. They have the right to gain as much as men from the benefits brought by globalisation. If not addressed, HIV/AIDS will make it even harder for women to play their role in the development of the country.

The first lady took time hand out free samples of the female condom and talk to the pressing market crowd, made of mostly women, to explain the advantages of using protective measures during sex. Her actions should be an example in the country, and the region as a whole, to inspire both individuals and leaders to ensure protection of women.

"Our first lady must be commended for the job well done, it is the first to happen in Zambia where the first lady goes to mix with women from the densely populated areas and distribute the condoms herself, women must emulate her," said one of the recipients of condoms at the market.

In Zambia, women often have very limited opportunities to demand safer sex, due to unequal power relationships within relationships. Interventions are rarely designed to be more user-friendly, accessible and available to them. Designing products made for women is one way to assist women to demand safer sex.

Producers of the newly launched FC2 condom say that it is a better version of the other female condoms currently on the market and urge women to take advantage of the product.

The UN's Population Fund (UNFPA) resident representative Deji Popoola, who was present at the launch and distribution of female condoms, said the condoms would be available on the market. Mr Popoola called on men to support women's rights and gender equality, especially when it come reproductive health.

Two hundred thousands condoms are available for free distribution. Yet, urban women are at a greater advantage, as such things as condoms are much more easily found in the cities and towns. For rural women, these condoms are unlikely to be within easy reach.

Ms Mwanawasa, who is also the president of the Organisation of African First Ladies (OAFLA) against HIV/AIDS, has taken the lead in empowering women to stand up for their rights. OAFLA's key strategy is to promote the development of effective strategies to empower women and address issues of gender inequality, as well as challenge gender norms that predisposed women to infection.

Unless governments and service providers address these gender inequalities, it will be difficult for women to protect themselves. First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa has pointed out that it is time for women "to demand the protection and equality that is their right."

By Violet Mengo. Ms Mengo writes for the Daily Mail in Zambia and is a member of the Gender and Media Southern African (GEMSA) Network.







© afrol News / Gender Links

UN, UNZA partner for climate change schooling

By Violet Mengo

A United Nations agency working in Zambia has partnered with the University of Zambia to address climate change by including climate change in human development studies. The joint venture has seen several activities being undertaken, among them a seminar for students of human development. For University of Zambia (UNZA) students, it was a great opportunity to learn more about climate change, the world’s most topical subject currently topping the agenda of most global meetings.   A short documentary on the impact of climate change was enough to trigger discussions on the effects of climate change, most of which have no immediate solutions.   The documentary filmed in December 2009 prior to the 15th session of the Conference of Parties, which took place in Denmark highlighted some of the problems Zambia is facing as a result of climate change. It made specific reference to Southern Province, once the country’s food basket, which has now become perpetually prone to drought, floods and deforestation. Virgin land, where trees can grow undisturbed alongside natural vegetation, is slowly being depleted and becoming bare, rivers are drying up and farmers face difficulties in growing crops because of constant changes in weather patterns. The documentary showed that changes in rainfall affect planting and harvesting periods and result in hunger and poverty, particularly among people who depend entirely on agriculture for their survival. It also depicted families directly affected by the disruptions in weather patterns and how they are adapting to the changes. As the students watched the documentary in silence, their faces were getting gloomier by the minute. There is no doubt that climate change has affected Zambia in so many ways. As the students focused on the documentary, lots of unanswered questions were flashing in their minds. This explained why one student, Given Mulenga’s mother had become bankrupt. A loan invested in a farm cannot be recouped because the rains kept washing away the crops. And Aaron Shawa, a student from Mwinilunga in North Western Province is not sure of completing his studies as his peasant farmer father can no longer support him financially. Income from farming has dwindled beyond comprehension. However, according to UNDP, not all hope is lost, hence the need to involve students in efforts to address climate change, with the hope that future generations might have a different tale for their children. The partnership between UNDP and UNZA is solely intended to ensure development and enhancement of preparedness for natural calamities. The partnership also aims at developing capacity among students, to empower them to make beneficial choices about their lives. UNZA Dean of Humanities Vincent Chanda said climate change threatens to erode human freedom and limit choices. Mr Chanda said poor people across the globe are already being forced to cope with the impact of climate change. “The effect of changes in weather patterns is preventing people from building a better life for themselves and their children, “he said. UNDP Country Director Viola Morgan said although most countries are off-track in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, a lot has been achieved by many others. She, however, said climate change is hampering efforts to deliver the MDGs promise. “Looking into the future, the danger is that it will halt and then reverse progress built up over generations, not just in cutting extreme poverty, but in health, nutrition, education and other areas,”she said. Ms Morgan said the effect of climate change will constrain Zambia’s ability to reach its development objectives under the MDGs. UNDP is the UN’s principle provider of development advice, advocacy and grant support to developing nations, including Zambia. With 166 country offices, the UNDP has long enjoyed the trust and confidence of governments and non-governmental organisations in many parts of the developing and developed world. Ms Morgan said the agency’s support for human development puts partnership at the centre of all aspects of its work. In 2006, UNDP introduced a course at UNZA to promote the human development paradigm. The objective of the course was to introduce the relevant issues of the human development model to students to help deepen and expand students’ understanding of and familiarity with the concept of sustainable human development, teaching students the theoretical foundations of human development and raising their awareness about how it relates to real life policy issues in the sphere. “Human development is a complex process, which requires the participation of many different players,” she said. Ms Morgan said UNDP recognises that universities harbour significant pools of knowledge and excellence, which can be tapped to promote the human development standard. The UN agency’s expectations are that in the long run, national policy dialogue on human development would increasingly involve more appropriately equipped participants who have benefitted from the course. “With this in mind, we are planning to extend this partnership to other higher learning institutions. Discussions have already begun with Mulungushi and Copperbelt universities,” she said. In 2008, UNDP adopted a climate change policy, which presents new approaches for supporting efforts of developing countries and vulnerable groups to scale up mitigation and adaptation action and successfully meet the challenges of climate change and attain MDGs. Ms Morgan said climate change is directly linked to human activity and everyone should adopt a Chinese proverb: One generation plants a tree, the next generation gets the shade. She said the manner in which climate is dealt with today has a great bearing on future generations and human development. “Climate change has become more and more visible to all of us, with its impact affecting human development. The importance of this seminar cannot be overemphasised,” she said. Ms Morgan said it was important that the students found time to learn and share information dealing with climate change. Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Climate Change Facilitation Unit technical coordinator Professor Prem Jain said in his presentation of the science of climate change that the earth is warming up.

Youth take on climate change

By Violet Mengo
Inspired by the International Youth Conference in Denmark in December 2009, climate change ambassadors from selected schools in Zambia convened at Mulungushi International Conference Centre for the first children’s national conference on climate change. The young ambassadors want children to voice their concerns about various issues affecting them. VIOLET MENGO attended the conference and now reports:

THE saying: The early bird catches the worm is applicable to various situations. In many ways, it also suits 14-year-old Luyando Katenda who is already mentoring his peers on climate change.
Luyando is determined to make a positive contribution to addressing the effects of climate change in Zambia because he is passionate about conserving the environment.
Being one of the four climate change ambassadors in Zambia, Luyando always finds time to talk to groups of fellow pupils at his local school (Chimwemwe Basic School in Lusaka) about the importance of conserving nature.

His wish is that more children could become effective ambassadors on climate change in particular, which is threatening to wreak havoc on poor countries. He is part of the team which facilitated a national conference for children in Lusaka.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, he uses part of his afternoon break to discuss climate change and the environment with his peers as part of efforts to increase awareness on the subject.
“My exposure at the youth international conference in Denmark last year has given me the confidence to share information and remind ourselves of our role in addressing climate change,” he said.
Luyando describes the time he spends with his friends as exciting. He has learnt basic science, although he acknowledges that some scientific terms on climate change are still difficult to translate into local languages.

At Chimwemwe Basic School, Luyando is well-known as an environmental activist who talks to just about any youngster he comes across, on the environment and climate.
Luyando says more people need to share what they know about the climate and learn whatever they can to help them contribute to saving their planet.

“No man is an island, we are all connected to each other and to animals. The time I spend with my friends is helping us to understand science more and develop ideas on how we can contribute to saving the earth,” he said.

The international conference in Denmark was about empowering young people from across the globe with information which could help to intensify efforts to address climate change.
Luyando said in an effort to make the world a better place to live in, inhabitants should go the extra mile to make their own contribution as individuals and as communities.

“Changing the world does not require us to do huge tasks. We can even do simple work, individually, like telling our friends about climate change or picking up garbage in our neighbourhoods. Adverse climatic changes also affect our lives, so it is up to us to make a difference,” he said.

His aim is to get the message of climate change to everyone, especially to the grassroots, to help them understand their environment and become part of the solution.
There is no doubt that children are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, as all sorts of disasters threaten their life span. The more endangered the world is, the more the future of children is threatened.

It was against this backdrop that UNICEF, partnering with the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources organised the national children’s climate change conference.
The three-day conference was aimed at educating the children on climate change and environmental sustainability to inspire them to become environmental activists.

The conference was held as part of the resolutions of the youth international climate change conference in Denmark in December 2009 where children agreed to be agents of change in their respective nations, by making a contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change.

Zambian children participated actively in organising the conference which scores of children from across the globe attended. UNICEF Zambia sponsored four children to represent Zambia.
It was at this conference that Luyando and three others participated in several activities to help them become environmental ambassadors.

The four children won a UNICEF competition which guaranteed their participation in the international youth conference. Luyando said it was important for children to be involved in addressing the effects of climate change so that they can grow up with a better understanding of prudent environmental management.
He said the only way to make the climate everyone’s business is to engage children at a very early age and talk about it more on radio, TV and other mediums of communication.
Sixteen-year-old Kasaka Katengo is another child ambassador who is eager to add her voice to saving the environment.
Kasaka said it is high time people realised that the existence of mankind on earth is becoming increasingly threatened. Everyone must be sensitised on curtailing activities which increase carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere like burning bushes, improper gas disposal, non-recycling of waste and deforestation among others.

“Climate change has become a new reality with deadly effects. The ecosystem, agriculture, water needs and supply, and food production are all adversely affected,” Kasaka said.
Climate change has a cumulative effect on natural resources and the balance of nature. It is clear that Zambian children like Luyando and Kasaka are aware that Zambia, like many other developing nations has contributed very little to the emission of carbon gases into the atmosphere which cause negative climate changes.

They also know that African countries and other developing nations are more affected by climatic changes because they do not have the means to adapt to the effects of climate change.
Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Catherine Namugala said at the conference that children are the future of any society and are entitled to participate in decisions affecting them, be it negotiations on climate change or adaptation and mitigation measures.
Ms Namugala said young people are naturally innovative, vibrant and determined and they would be a critical voice on climate change both within Zambia and at international level.

She said children are affected by the effects of climate change—prolonged droughts or floods which hamper food production, resulting in increased nutritional insecurity and deficiency.
“Children in rural areas help parents to undertake chores like fetching water and firewood but with climate changes having a direct impact on these resources and making them scarce, the time spent on these tasks will be longer and school time will be affected,” she said.

Ms Namugala said women and girls are often the ones who fetch water and are forced to walk the extra distance when wells run dry. For children, this is done at the expense of schoolwork and play, both of which are critical for their development.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) report released in 2009 says climate change could leave an extra 25 million children malnourished by 2050, unless there is heavy investment in adaptive measures.

The report predicts that climate change will eliminate much of the gains achieved in the nutrition of children.

UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa (ESARO) regional director Elhadj Amadou Gueye said combating climate change must be a concern for children everywhere.
Mr Gueye said children in Zambia have the potential to become agents of real change on various issues affecting them.

“It is important that children are able to discuss and suggest measures to help their country adapt to climate change and mitigate its impact,” he said.
Mr Gueye said children can take a major role in reminding their own families and communities of the importance of these measures.

Chief Macha of the Tonga people of Choma, who is an ardent climate change activist, said there can be no better time to hold the children’s conference than now when Zambia has already started experiencing floods and droughts.

He said climate change is real. Scientists have proved that the earth is warming up and climate change can have devastating consequences on human life, flora and fauna.