December 1 is World AIDS day whose theme focus is on leadership. HIV/AIDS should not be viewed as a health issue alone but as a developmental issue. Most of the people that have been dying from AIDS are women and men who are economically active and economically productive age group and this has a severe implication for our economy and society as a whole. It is clear that the disease has been spreading faster to people who live in poverty and lack access to basic health services, nutrition, clean water and education. We cannot tackle this problem unless we break the silence and remove the stigma and shame that surround it. As elected representatives in communities, councilors and Members of Parliament have to provide leadership on how to deal with AIDS. Leaders at all levels should act as role models for communities and be an example to people. We should take the lead in promoting openness. This is because councilors and MPs are closest to the people and are responsible for addressing local problems. Municipalities are also ideally placed to identify the needs of the people in their areas and also coordinate a coherent response to community needs. There is need to work closely with people living with AIDS through our action show that we accept and care for those affected and to achieve this objective an effective local government strategy need to be based on an understanding of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the economy and social infrastructure of cities,

If the spread of HIV/AIDS is not contained by failure to provide strong political leadership, we risk as a country to reverse all the progress that has been made in our young democracy towards building a better life for our people.

There is urgent need to coordinate and bring together community centered multi sectoral actions. An effective partnership between various levels of Government and civil society will play a key role the persistent misconception about AIDS in community.

We must emphasis here that the Abidjan declaration of 1997 should be strengthened as it calls on municipal leaders to have an active role in leading the way in fighting discrimination and stigma and also to provide political leadership.

Government should also ensure that enough resources are provided in this years budget in health, education programs and a comprehensive poverty reduction plan be devised if levels of infection are to go down.

It makes sad reading that the recently announced World Development Report shows that Zambia has not moved in terms of human development and this calls on action on the part of government to improve people’s lives.

For More information Contact:
Daniel Chisenga    Mulungushi Ward 18 Councillor,     E/mail:    

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