Embassy of the United States

Ambassador Speeches

Remarks by Ambassador Martinez at the Inaugural GDA Steering Committee Meeting

Good morning,
Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mundia Sikatana, MP
Honorable Minister of Health, Sylvia Masebo, MP
Honorable Minister of Mines and Minerals, Kalombo Mwansa, MP
Jim Bednar, Mission Director, USAID
Dr. Ben Chirwa, Director General, National AIDS Council
CEOs and representatives from the Mining and Agribusiness GDAs
Distinguished guests and cooperating partners


First of all, I’d like to thank our friends in Government for participating in this meeting, and for showing their support for this unique public-private initiative. The presence here today of senior government leaders sends exactly the right signals regarding the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector.

At the end of September 2005, the U.S. government and the eight outstanding private companies represented here today created two unique public-private partnerships to alleviate the impact of HIV and AIDS on the mining and agribusiness sectors and surrounding communities. The signing of the Memorandums of Understanding launched the first Global Development Alliances in Zambia, combining the resources of the U.S. government and the private sector aimed at addressing HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment services.

The agreements include the five largest mining companies in Zambia and three of the largest agricultural companies in Zambia. Together these eight private companies will contribute $5.6 million over the next three years to prevent HIV transmission, provide care to people living with HIV and AIDS and to Orphans and Vulnerable Children, and increase availability of ARV treatment. Over the same period the U.S. government will contribute at least $3.5 million in technical and financial support from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The USAID Mission in Lusaka will manage the U.S. government’s contributions to this remarkable initiative.

This partnership is a formidable alliance. The high profile of our private sector partners highlights the importance today’s businesses place on investing resources and efforts to mitigate the impact of HIV in the workplace and surrounding communities. These partnerships help to reduce absenteeism and retain skilled and professional labor, and also reduce the pressure on the public sector to provide health services. Another key benefit is that the Global Development Alliances will help address the problem of the growing number of orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia. It is clear that the eight companies sitting before us know that fighting HIV and AIDS is what socially responsible businesses in Zambia should do.

While all the partners have active HIV workplace programs at varying stages of development, the Global Development Alliances program will provide an opportunity to enhance and accelerate these programs, to expand HIV and AIDS services, and to share experiences, resources and lessons learned. These partnerships will contribute to Zambia’s national health goals by increasing the number of individuals who access Voluntary Counseling and Testing and receive care, support, and ART Treatment.

The size and geographic reach of the business operations in Zambia provides a unique network for an extensive distribution and dissemination of information on HIV prevention, care and treatment. These eight major companies have the capacity to reach 38,000 employees and an estimated one million community members in 6 provinces and 30 districts of Zambia. This includes urban and rural populations, miners, contractors, commercial farmers, subsistence farmers, migrant workers, engineers, women, youth and children.

These partnerships provide a platform for improved networking of service delivery between private companies and the public health sector. Several of the companies in this partnership have excellent clinical facilities and medical personnel. By bringing together private companies, District Health Management Teams, and public health facilities, additional clients can receive services they would not normally have access to. Already, the Global Development Alliances partners’ collaboration with the government’s public health services has enabled the provision of free rapid test kits, condoms, educational materials and monitoring and evaluation tools and, since the signing of the two Global Development Alliances three months ago, many other significant achievements have been realized:

a. Over 40,000 people have been reached with abstinence and “be faithful” messages and condom information in the workplace and the community.
b. More than 3800 people have gone through VCT and received their results.
c. More than 1200 people have received new training or refresher training as Peer Educators, Counsellors or care givers in the workplace and the community.
d. A door-to-door health check campaign model has been developed and piloted that includes mobile Voluntary Counseling and Testing.
e. More than 50 certified counselors were trained in the use of HIV Rapid Test kits

We recognize, of course, that these eight companies face intense challenges in making their core business successful. And there are wide diversities among the companies. Despite this, the fight against HIV and AIDS has become a common ground for you all. I am very interested in your work, your enterprises, and your challenges. Over the coming weeks and months, I hope to visit your companies to learn more about your operations. I am really excited at the opportunity to see your successes, and to learn about your challenges, and the way you join together to fight the scourge of the HIV pandemic.

I am proud that the U.S. Government is involved in this important collaboration and look forward to working with you individually and jointly and to visiting your very impressive programs. Thank you.