The Zambian program of AFAP-APAC is implemented by the Chikuni Home Based Care (HBC) Program, which is part of the Jesuit Mission activities in the three Districts of Chikuni Parish – Monze, Gwembe, and Choma. The AFAP-APAC funds are utilised to add value to an already existing program, whose approach is to utilise Voluntary Counselling and Testing as a corner stone of treatment, care and support at the individual as well as community levels.

With a limited budget, the HBC program has managed to achieve its targets due to the strategic partnership it enjoys with other partners and within the Chikuni Parish programs. These include: the Mission Hospital (provision of anti retro-virals and condoms) the Chikuni Radio (dissemination of relevant HIV and AIDS prevention messages, relevant information programs targeting People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) and advocacy for stigma reduction) the World Food Programme (provision of food packs to PLWHAs) Community Leaders (provision of training and advocating for the rights of PLWHAs, HIV testing, and recruitment of care givers and counsellors).

To date, the program has trained 130 care givers, 18 counsellors, assisted in the establishment of 35 PLWHA support groups with 937 members, developed and aired 52 radio programs focusing on PLWHA issues, and facilitated and conducted testing and counselling to 3,659 individuals.

In addition, the program has shown 31 video shows and drama groups to 15 schools.  The figures indicate the program has met and surpassed its targets in both HIV and AIDS information dissemination, care and support despite its limited budget.

The Chikuni Home-Based Care Program is helping both health care workers and affected households to support HIV/AIDS patients. When families are taught how to care for patients in their homes they alleviate some of the burden placed on the under-resourced local health facilities, while the patients are able to stay in the comfort of their homes. The program also receives support through contributions from the Australian public and other donors.

In addition to the AFAP-APAC Program, AFAP is providing funds through its African Women’s Program.

The Program is assisting women who are affected by HIV and AIDS to form self-help groups. They are given training in health care and income generation skills, and provided small amounts of ‘seed capital’ to kick-start small businesses. The small businesses include making ‘tie-and-dye’ material, keeping goats and chickens, running a small bakery, and working together growing vegetables in small communal kitchen gardens. With income from these activities, the women become more self-reliant and are able to improve their nutrition and the overall health of themselves and their families. The ‘tie-and-dye’ group has been running nearly two years and is now completely self-sufficient. They have their own bank account and are exploring ways of expanding the sale of their material by using markets in Lusaka.