Zambia Proposes Debt-Relief Plan To Fight HIV/AIDS

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Title: HEALTH: Zambia Proposes Debt-Relief Plan To Fight HIV/AIDS

By Anthony Mukwita

LUSAKA, Sep 16 (IPS) - Zambia, one of the Sub-Saharan African
countries that has been worst hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, has
announced a plan to generate resources to fight the disease.

If accepted by the international donor community, the plan will
involve directing resources meant for international debt relief
towards the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The strategic plan, set for the initial period of 1999-2001,
was announced by Zambia's Finance Minister Katele Kalumba at the
ongoing International Conference on AIDS and STDS in Africa
(ICASA), which ends in Lusaka on Thursday.

Kalumba said the plan was arrived at after several
consultations with key stakeholders -- the private sector, civil
society and the public sector.

This plan proposes, among other things, a multi-lateral and bi-
lateral debt for development arrangement to generate resources for
AIDS prevention.

''Under the programme,'' Kalumba said, ''scarce national
resources, presently used to service debt, would be set aside
under commonly agreed terms. The funds would be used by civil,
private and public institutions to implement HIV/AIDS
prevention...''

The Zambian finance minister called on western donors and other
creditors, including development partners, to support the
programme.

Kalumba said Zambia is committed to honouring its estimated 6.5
billion U.S. Dollars debt, but the country may not be able to do
so and fight AIDS effectively at the same time.

The Zambian official also assured donors and development
partners that a programme would be devised to use the funds freed
up through a debt cancellation package.

''The Zambian government recognises that considerable concern
has been expressed by creditors and citizens alike on how
resources freed through debt relief would be used,'' Kalumba said.

'' In response to this concern, a backbone of the proposed
programme has been drawn,'' he added.

According to the plan, debt relief funds will be held by a non-
governmental body in an HIV/AIDS Multi-Donor Fund, and channelled
directly from this body to other groups such as churches,
employers federations, traditional healers associations, among
others.

This central body would be required to submit regular financial
reports.

The HIV/AIDS debt-relief programme will be well planned, and
implemented and evaluated in a partnership between the civil,
private and public sector, the finance minister said.

Kalumba said he believes that when the plan is finally
operational, Zambia will have the necessary resources to reduce
the rate of HIV infection.

According to Zambia's Central Board of Health, 19 percent of
the country's adult population between the ages 15-49 is HIV
positive. (END/IPS/am/pm/99)