Improving the provision of health services so as to raise and sustain the productivity of its citizens is vital to Zambia if it is to attain its economic development objectives.

Zambian health statistics present a mixed picture. Although great efforts are being made by government, there has been deterioration in some key health indicators, such as maternal mortality and infant mortality rates. Despite life expectancy at birth having increased in the past few years to 40.5 years (UNDP 2007), this figure is still substantially below the world average, reflecting the impact of HIV/AIDS-related morbidity and mortality.

HIV/AIDS prevalence in some groups, primarily adolescent girls and young women in urban areas, appears to be dropping. However, the country’s overall adult figures remain steady at 17 percent and national antenatal HIV figures stand at nearly 21 percent (UNAIDS 2006). Another side-effect of HIV infection in Zambia is orphaning. Currently over 1 million children – 19 percent of all those under age 18 – have lost one or both parents, and more than 60 percent of them (630 000 children) are orphaned due to AIDS-related causes.

Responses to HIV and AIDS in Zambia have for many years aimed to prevent HIV transmission; to care for those who are infected and affected; and to reduce the personal, social and economic impact of AIDS. While the state has been engaged in an ambitious anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment programme, reducing the number of new infections while scaling-up the provision of treatment poses a massive challenge to government and international donors.

Indicating government’s commitment to the health and welfare of its citizens, the allocation to health amounted to K1 586.6 billion, or 11.5 percent of the total 2008 budget, compared to 10.8 in 2007. Of this amount, K117.5 billion is for infrastructure development, with key programmes including the expansion, construction and rehabilitation of district hospitals and health centres as well as housing for rural medical personnel. In addition, K113.5 billion has been allocated for the procurement of essential drugs and K24.7 billion for the recruitment of 1 700 health workers.

The Fifth National Development Plan (2006-2010) provides strategies for achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals on HIV and AIDS, malaria and other related diseases by 2015. Of particular importance is government’s scheme to provide free ARVs and free medical services to all health centres within rural areas.