I’ve now been in Lusaka for almost four weeks, so I ought to fill everyone in with a little more detail about the work that I’ve been doing at ZARAN (Zambia AIDSLAW Research & Advocacy Network). My personal research project, which I hope to have completed by the end of my stay in Zambia, deals with access to ARVs and the various distractions that are present in this country that have deterred HIV positive individuals from adhering to proper treatment – these include herbal remedies that have not been scientifically tested, faith based healing (Jesus!), counterfeit drugs, and false cure claims. The paper will be used for ZARAN’s internal operations, facilitating future staff and clients who come across these issues; ideally, I can find a published for it as well.

The topic of false cure claims is particularly relevant for ZARAN and myself, as currently I am working on a case that deals with exactly that subject, on behalf of a client whose brother lost his life after receiving a false cure: in 2007, a false practitioner administered a chemical known as “Tetrasil” to (at least) 26 individuals. The phony doctor advertised the chemical in newspapers and press conferences as being a cure for AIDS, and advised his patients to quit taking their life-prolonging ARV medications. At least four individuals died shortly after receiving the injection of this chemical (which is in fact a swimming pool disinfectant), and yet two years later this scumbag (pardon my legal terminology) is still free and has not been charged. Efforts to prosecute this man have been met with various roadblocks, and it is quite clear that elements of corruption are keeping this “doctor” out of prison. Such is Zambia, it seems. I will do my best and hopefully with the help of some contacts I have at another NGO (Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign) and agencies such as Transparency International, some justice can be achieved. Who knows…

Sevda and I have also been helping out with any tasks that are needed around the office, and last week I completed a comprehensive report on the issue of HIV prevention in Zambia’s prisons, to be used by ZARAN’s executive director as the basis for a formal presentation she will be delivering in July. This issue is quite complex, as are most issues related to HIV in this country. It is difficult to try and confront legal challenges in a country where social perspectives are (compared to how we think in North America) so extremely skewed. For example, homosexuality is illegal in Zambia, and thus there is great hesitation on the part of prison officials to provide condoms in prisons, despite the blatant truth that sex does take place in male prisons, and therefore HIV transmission is a serious risk.

I’ve adjusted to life in this country in all material regards, but often the opinions and (mis)beliefs of individuals here still shock me. I was talking with a university student (what you could call an educated Zambian, I suppose) who suggested that homosexuals will eventually make the human race go extinct because if everyone becomes gay, how will we reproduce? And he was dead serious! Misconceptions are abundant, which makes it somewhat easier to comprehend how HIV positive individuals (especially those who are in vulnerable populations) could have believed a tabloid article claiming that a “one time injection cures AIDS for life.” For all the legal work that could be done in this country to fix its many problems, the foundation for improvements needs to be education.

Outside of work, we do a lot to stay busy. A couple days ago we accompanied a local NGO called “Tiny Tim and Friends” as they visited a compound in the city and screened almost 100 children for HIV. They are a very genuine organization with noble intentions, and it was both heartwarming and upsetting to see some of the kids who showed up for testing and the condition they were in. This past weekend we took a trip to the Copperbelt region to see a World Cup qualifying match between Zambia and Algeria – we lost, but it was a fun day and a very unique journey – 18 total hours on a cramped bus full of university students who literally did not stop cheering for the entire ride. A couple weeks ago we did another 18 hour bus ride to Malawi for the weekend (actually those 18 hours were spent just getting there, and that included many buses, taxis, and hitchhiking in the back of a pickup) – Malawi was awesome, very mellow, and overall quite friendly – two glorious days on the beach and then another 18 hours back to Lusaka. Eventually I should probably post some pictures of all of this, until then though just take my word for it.
Jamie