Macha Mission Hospital

The HIV-clinic for Macha Mission Hospital is coming! After receiving the first tranche of funding, from PrivaServe Foundation from the Netherlands, Macha Hospital has contracted the job to a local team of builders. They have started early May with the clearing of the site, and digging of the foundation. Architect Koos van Stam came to review progress during the past week.

During many discussions on ideas on current and future activities at Macha Mission Hospital in the growing HIV/AIDS pandemic, the need for a Strategic Overview was signaled. HIV/AIDS related work could become a major part of activities at Macha Mission Hospital.  Also, it is bound to affect every part of its operation.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a major challenge both to public health and socio-economic development of the country. The physical, psychological and emotional devastation as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has brought great suffering.

However tragic the HIV/AIDS epidemic is, there is still occasion for hope. Certain types of human behaviour spread HIV; therefore, it can be controlled by changes in those behaviours. What is needed is continued involvement from all sectors of Zambian society to promote interventions to reduce high-risk sexual behaviours, treat and control other sexually transmitted diseases, maintain a safe blood supply, ensure safe use of needles, and mitigate the problems of those already infected with HIV or otherwise affected by the epidemic. More than 80% of the adult population remains free of the infection and all of these people have the opportunity to protect themselves from the disease.