HIV AIDS & ADVOCACY Jubilee Centre (Zambia) Case Study
Jubilee Centre Jubilee Centre is a Christian organization committed to building relationships with churches, organizations and individual Christian professionals in order to advance the kingdom of God and that together we utilize our skills for the economic, social, intellectual, and health betterment of the people. 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 2
Jubilee Centre: VISION To deepen the church engagement with poor and hungry people To influence Christians in strategic positions to preach and to live by the gospel in order to bring salvation, healing and justice to a nation that has fallen into poverty, rampant moral issues (HIV/AIDS) and corruption a nation groaning for redemption. To link the local Zambian church with the wider global church so that together we prophetically call upon and influence, the local, national and international leaders and decision-makers of our societies to maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed and rescue the weak and the needy (Ps. 82:3-4). 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 3
Jubilee centre s Context Ignorance of Church on how to respond to the pandemic (i.e. lack of Integral mission) Church judgmental attitude The Zambian church has been unorganized in its efforts to be the social and moral voice of the people. However, the church in Zambia has experienced growth and has been preoccupied with numerical growth than the quality of disciples Little connection has been made between the importance of servant leadership and reducing poverty and injustice 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 4
Zambian HIV AIDS Situation HIV spread quickly throughout the Zambian population during the 1980s and the early 1990s. 1.2 m Zambians are Living with HIV AIDS Zambia has an estimated HIV Prevalence of 14% Over 200,000 people died of AIDS related illness Over 1,000,000 children under the age of 15 years in Zambia are orphaned 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 5
Percent ADULT HIV PREVALENCE RATES BY PROVINCE 25 20 15 10 5 16 14 15 10 18 9 20 17 14 14 11 10 13 11 7 22 21 14 8 9 7 7 5 6 18 15 11 15 13 8 0 Zambia Central Copperbelt Eastern Luapula Lusaka Northern N/Western Southern Western Province 2001/2 ZDHS 2007 ZDHS 2015 Proj. 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 6
Accounting for the Spread of HIV High levels of poverty AIDS High mobility of specific social groups that put them at risk Negative Social and Cultural beliefs and practices Stigma and Discrimination hinder the infected not to come out for help or delayed help 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 7
Accounting for the Spread of HIV AIDS Inadequate or inappropriate Information on HIV AIDS Gender perception that perpetuate the dominance of male interests Church perception that AIDS is punishment from God led to lack of involvement 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 8
Lack of Political Commitment -Zambia has lacked highest political commitment to the fight against HIV AIDS Political commitment has being lacking due to lack of policy framework Policy interventions against HIV AIDS had been undertaken in an environment devoid of policy direction and guidance. Failure by Parliament to adopt the draft national policy resulted un undue duplication of effort and waste of scarce resources. 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 9
Background In 2003 the Zambian Government formulated the National HIV AIDS policy to mitigate the spread of HIV AIDS in the country. The National HIV/AIDS Policy was still in draft form providing no legal framework through which HIV/AIDS issues in Zambia could be aggressively and legitimately addressed Failure to adopt the draft national HIV AIDS Policy meant that there was limited awareness of entitlements and rights of the infected among the poor and the marginalized communities in the nation. 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 10
Background Jubilee Centre noticed the following gaps in the fight against HIV AIDS in Zambia: Lack of highest political will Lack of a national HIV AIDS policy which can be used to hold elected leaders accountable. HIV/AIDS was spreading fast in the impoverished communities Stigma and discrimination remained the greatest threat in the fight against HIV/AIDS spread. 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 11
Challenges Jubilee Centre noticed that: VCT is the entry point for the diagnosis and management of the HIV/AIDS. because of the stigma and discrimination attached to the pandemic many people are not coming to undergo VCT so as to access the required ART Negative cultural influence also deter many from seeking ART services. The high costs of ART services affected many people to access ART. 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 12
Challenges The challenge to coordinate actions to counter the pandemic will require mobilizing all stakeholders- PLWHA, FBOs, NGOs, CBOs, Civic Leaders, MPs and Leaders from every sector of life Until these stakeholders are engaged in advocating for the reduction of stigma and discrimination, increased access to VCT and ART, the fight will be rendered a lost battle 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 13
Jubilee Centre s conviction Jubilee Centre believed that elected leaders such as members of Parliament should take a leading role in initiating and advocating for the HIV/AIDS Policy issues The main challenge was how to go accomplish this 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 14
Jubilee s Strategy Build capacity among church leaders to influence the adoption of the draft National HIV/AIDS Policy Raise awareness on the importance policy direction and guidance in the fight against HIV AIDS. Campaign for the adoption and implementation of the National HIV AIDS policy. Improve linkages between church leaders and their members of Parliament. Influence Members of Parliament to take a leading role in HIV/AIDS issues in the constituency as well as initiating HIV/AIDS Policy issues in Parliament 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 15
Jubilee s Strategy Members of Parliament MPs initiating HIV/AIDS Policy issues at constituency and national level Use the MPs influence to adopt and implement the national HIV AIDS Policy. MPs taking leading role in HIV/AIDS community meetings MPs advocating for implementation of the National HIV AIDS Policy once adopted. 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 16
Jubilee s Strategy Church leaders Church leaders advocating for adoption of the National HIV/AIDS Policy to be implemented Initiating dialogue with MPs on the National HIV AIDS policy Church leaders initiating HIV/AIDS community meetings Church leaders working closely with local organizations on to advocate for the adoption and full implementation of the Policy 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 17
Jubilee s Strategy Churches Providing Multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS policy Providing Policy tracking and analysis Engaging in policy negotiations with stake holders Advocacy campaigns meant to hold government accountable on policy matters Providing linkages between the community and the government 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 18
Jubilee s Strategy Church is the hope for the community-citynation-world Raise awareness among churches on their role Increase church role in its response to AIDS (HBC, Orphans, vulnerable children, and abstinence program) 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 19
Methodology Used Jubilee Centre organised workshops over a three year period in 18 constituencies for NGOs, Church leaders, Chiefs, Civic Leaders and Members of Parliament. The purpose of the workshops was to campaign for the adoption and full implementation of the National influence the HIV/AIDS Policy, that reduces stigma and discrimination for People Living With HIV/AIDS and the subsequent increase in the usage of ART services. 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 20
Outcomes There was increased MP awareness on the National HIV/AIDS Policy An MP who attended our training workshops agreed to move a motion to adopt the HIV/AIDS Policy in Parliament Three other MPs agreed to second the motion in Parliament 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 21
Outcomes In December 2005 the National HIV AIDS Policy was adopted in Parliament through the efforts of the MPs that Jubilee Centre worked with. ART services are now free through out the country Rural towns have received equipments such CD4 count machines 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 22
Outcomes Increased number of people receiving ART ART services brought near the where people live Increased involvement by churches in HBC and abstinence program (Mapalo community received a grant from the government to enhance its abstinence program) 3/8/2011 Martin Kapenda 23