press releases

CRS Celebrates Five Years of Service Reaching One Million Zambians

On Friday, January 27th, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) held a reception at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka to celebrate its 5th Year Anniversary of programming in Zambia. The celebration acknowledged and thanked all the donors, partners and volunteers that work with CRS in HIV/AIDS and food security programs.

Through the support of the U.S. government, other donors and its strategic relationships with the Government of Zambia and its Catholic Partners, CRS has reached over one million of the most vulnerable people with supplemental food rations and HIV/AIDS activities in Zambia.

The U.S. government has supported CRS with approximately $32 Million USD through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the USAID Food for Peace supported C-SAFE Program that works to improve food security.

CRS also supports the efforts of civil society groups to promote debt relief as well as good governance through organizations such as the Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection.

Speaking at the 5th Anniversary Celebration, Andrew Passen, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka, stated, “By supporting the position of total debt relief, the Center contributed to the success of this relief effort as Zambia met the HIPC completion point last year. On December 30th, 2005 the new U.S. Ambassador to Zambia, Carmen Martinez, had the privilege of signing an historic agreement relieving Zambia of bi-lateral debt owed to the United States amounting to $280 Million USD.”

The U.S. government is very keen to encourage public-private partnerships such as linking the private sector to donor-assisted efforts to support HIV/AIDS programs. CRS, through the AIDSRelief Program is supporting this effort at the Wusakile Mining Hospital in Kitwe by providing anti-retroviral therapy to 785 clients in the community.

Michael Wiest, Vice President of CRS, is visiting to attend the celebration. He stated, “CRS has served approximately one- tenth of the population of Zambia through food security and HIV/AIDS programs. This impact is made possible through our partners and donors. They are critical to the success of our programs.”

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The following CRS Projects have been funded by the U.S. government: AIDSRelief Anti-Retroviral Therapy; SUCCESS Home-based Care and Hospice Care; Orphans and Vulnerable Children Initiatives; RAPIDS Multi-Sectoral AIDS Response; and C-SAFE Food Security.

For more information about CRS, contact:

Michele Brommelsiek
CRS Zambia Program
Plot 106 & 108 Great East Road
P.O. Box 38086
Rhodes Park, Lusaka
Tel: (260)1-224 126/31/35
Fax: (260) 1-224 118