The Zambia AIDS Advocacy Alliance (ZAAA) was formed in 2005 by partners working with Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO). VSO supports partners in implementing activities on advocacy surrounding two key issues;
1. Reduction of burden of HIV and AIDS regarding care and support for women, children and youth.
2. To ensure access to appropriate prevention, treatment, care and support information for children, women and youth
The members of ZAAA are: ZARAN; Treatment Adherence Literacy Counselling (TALC); Thandizani Home Based Care; VK Community Care Organisation; NZP+; Chipulumutso Community Home Care Trust; Mwazwini Home based care organization; Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS), CHEP, and the Catholic Diocese of Ndola.
The formation of ZAAA was designed to provide capacity to members to provide vital information to the targeted groups, in order for them to engage in meaningful advocacy, and to articulate issues of rights of caregivers and people living with HIV and AIDS.
The alliance also aims at creating linkages to initiatives;
- To scale up literacy in counseling, testing and care, and strengthening of home based programmes.
- Supporting greater involvement of people living with HIV and AIDS
- Linking gender to food security, male involvement in home based care and empowerment of women in micro finance initiatives
- Links to governance and human rights, especially for marginalized groups
- Legislation on sexual reproductive rights.
ZARAN is the lead agency for ZAAA with responsibility for cocordinating the alliance and providing secretarial support.
ZAAA successes include:
Radio Christian Voice: We have recorded a series of radio interviews with our partners Radio Christian Voice to raise awareness of the burden that female caregivers are carrying and to encourage males to get involved in caregiving.
ART access: ZAAA successfully lobbied for the completion and opening of the Chazanga ART clinic.
PCR machine optimisation: Polymerase Chain Reaction machines help detect the HIV virus in children under 18 months old. We are researching the utilization of PCR machines to ensure we make the best use of them in Zambia.
Capacity Building: ZAAA members have been trained in Monitoring and Evaluation and Advocacy and are implementing that training within their organisations. They have also benefitted from study tours, exchange visits and volunteer placements.
Small grants: ZAAA members have received 9 small grants from VSO enabling them to train volunteers and Community Based Organisations, establish Income Generating Activities, develop advocacy programmes and improve strategic planning.
