Press Releases

March 14, 2008. Lusaka.

U.S. Government Strengthens Partnership with Global Development Alliances

Kitwe, Zambia -- Top executives of eight mining and agribusiness industries and the Deputy Chief of U.S. Mission Michael Koplovsky gathered here for a meeting to commit greater support for the sustainable development of Zambian society and for safeguarding the health of workers, families, and communities. 

Speaking at the luncheon meeting, Mr. Koplovsky praised the leaders of the Global Development Alliances (GDAs) for playing a pivotal role in the fight against HIV/AIDS and saving the lives of people through innovative approaches. He said, "As a united front, the GDA partners and community-based groups have used their unique strengths to present one voice to the Zambian Government to support the national strategies in health and HIV/AIDS." 

In 2005, the U.S. Government through GDA partners – Konkola Copper Mines, Mopani Copper Mines, Copperbelt Energy Company, Kansanshi Mines, Bwana Mkubwa Mining Limited, Dunavant Cotton Zambia Limited, Zambia Sugar, and Mkushi Farmers Association set up programs to scale up HIV/AIDS services, not only for employees and their dependents but also for members of surrounding communities. The main goal of the GDAs is to reduce absenteeism, mobilize employees, dependents and community members to access information and services on HIV prevention, counseling and testing, care, and treatment.

In the past three years, the eight private companies have contributed over $5 million to prevent new cases of HIV transmission, to care for people living with HIV/ AIDS, to support orphans and vulnerable children, and to increase the availability of anti-retroviral treatment. Over the same three years the U.S. government contributed at least $2.1 million in technical and financial support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Technical support has been provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development through SHARe Project and the Community HIV/AIDS Management Programme (CHAMP). Over the last three years, the GDA private sector contribution in cash and kind to HIV/AIDS has been valued at $3.9 million.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is the largest global health initiative directed at a single disease that any nation has ever undertaken.  Since 2004, the U.S. Government has provided Zambia with more than $556 million to fight HIV/AIDS. For more information about PEPFAR, please visit http://www.pepfar.gov.
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