According to a report by the UN in October 2005 one in five Zambians are infected with HIV/AIDS. Life expectancy has fallen to 37 years 121 million children across Africa have been orphaned by the disease. Children looking after siblings, barely surviving in child run communities.

We at ASAP-Aids Support Awareness Project are committed to tackling this catastrophic situation by addressing previously un-addressed cultural issues and practices. We can no longer pussy foot around the practices of child sex abuse, sleeping with you dead brothers husband, cross infection due to cutting with razor blades in tribal ceremonies and the like.

We also desperately need to bring about an end to stigmatisation in order to allow communities to work together and support each other through the devastation this disease is having on their lives.

Large NGO’s are not prepared to attack these sensitive issues. I was told by the Programme Advisor of The National Aids Council in Lusaka in Febuary 2006 that wiping out child sex abuse would lead to more starvation as the abuser is usually the provider for the family.

Does this make it right? Does this mean that children should continue to be abused in order that they can get fed?

It is our aim to reach as many people as possible, as soon as possible at minimum cost.

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