AEGiS-15IAC: Traditional leaders as key players in combating HIV/AIDS a case by women for change (WFC)work with the traditional leaders in Zambia.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Traditional leaders as key players in combating HIV/AIDS a case by women for change (WFC)work with the traditional leaders in Zambia.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10309)

Sikazwe E
Women for Change, Lusaka, Zambia

INTRODUCTION: Despite being closer to the people, Traditional Leaders have been left out of development initiatives such as the fight against HIV/AIDS.

DESCRIPTION: Since 2000, WFC has been organizing workshops for Traditional Leaders on HIV/AIDS, Gender, Human Rights and governance issues through out the Zambia. WfC facilitated the formation of the National Royal Foundation as well as provincial foundations as a forum for traditional leaders to share best practices in supporting family units that have been affected by HIV/AIDS as one of the objectives. The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Council of Traditional Leaders has been formed to lobby regional and international bodies on issues of significance such as the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. LESSONS LEARNT: As a result of the WFC program, Traditional Leaders are now being recognized as vital stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS, gender imbalances, negative cultural practices and beliefs and human rights violations and are increasingly getting involved in development initiatives in the nation. Recently, the Zambia Integrated Health Programme (ZIHP) organized an HIV/AIDS workshop for 200 Traditional Leaders to put them at the Centre of all the initiatives aimed at combating HIV/AIDS.

CONCLUSION: Working with Traditional Leaders as key players in the fight against HIV/AIDS is one of the sure ways of combating the pandemic by challenging the negative cultural practices that perpetuate the spread of HIV/AIDS, gender imbalances and human rights violations.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Institutions involved in HIV/AIDS, gender, poverty and human rights issues to work with Traditional Leaders in order to put them at the center of the fight against HIV/AIDS and involve them in the regional, national policy formulation and implementation processes.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, Zambia, Human Rights, Culture, Work, Africa, Southern, Humans, Female, education

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