Diflucan Partnership Programme Training expanded to Zambia
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IAPAC-AFRO expands the Diflucan Partnership Programme Training Ini-
tiative into Zambia
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA -- The International Association of Physicians in AIDS
Care�s African Regional Office (IAPAC-AFRO) held the first Diflucan
Partnership Programme (DPP) training workshop in Zambia, June 5-6,
2003. Pfizer Inc. launched the Diflucan Partnership with the Zambian
government and IAPAC as part of its DPP expansion programme in Af-
rica. As in over a dozen African countries, the anti-fungal Diflucan
(fluconazole) is being provided free of charge to government hospi-
tals and clinics in Zambia and IAPAC-AFRO is educating physicians and
allied healthcare professionals on using the drug to treat cryptoc-
coccal meningitis and oesophageal candidiasis and in overall best
care practices for HIV/AIDS patients. Part of this effort since 2001,
IAPAC-AFRO has trained over 12,000 African healthcare professionals
in the DPP�s participant countries.
The Joint United Nation�s Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates
that 1.2 million Zambians -- 21.5 percent of the adult population --
are living with HIV/AIDS. This makes Zambia�s adult HIV prevalence
sixth highest in the world, behind 5 other African countries in which
the DPP is active: Botswana (38.8 percent), Zimbabwe (33.7 percent),
Swaziland (33.4 percent), Lesotho (31.0 percent), and Namibia (22.5
percent). An estimated 120,000 Zambians died of AIDS-related compli-
cations in 2001, the majority of them in their productive prime. Cur-
rently, there are an estimated 570,000 orphans in Zambia.
During DPP training, IAPAC-AFRO leads participants through a short
course on HIV clinical management that focuses on diagnosis and
treatment of cryptcoccal meningitis and oesophageal candidiasis, in-
fections capable of causing life-threatening complications for pa-
tients with depleted immune systems. The Zambian training took place
at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). Dr. Gordon Silumbe, UTH
doctor, was instrumental in coordinating the training and provided
excellent input. Participants consisted of officials from the Minis-
try of Health and health care workers (physicians, nurses, and phar-
macists) from all nine provincial hospitals in Zambia where Diflucan
will be distributed.
According to Dr. Mulamba Diese, the Executive Director of IAPAC-AFRO
and a member of the training team, the training was well attended and
a success. The fact that participants came from various sectors
showed the determination and dedication of the Zambian medical fra-
ternity in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Diese stated. Many issues of
implementation were constructively debated and resolved. The workshop
was very interactive as a whole and participants were involved and
eager to learn and implement. Participants showed a lot of enthusiasm
to the fact that Diflucan would be available for free, alleviating
the problem of inaccessibility due to high costs.
Diese feels that IAPAC-AFRO�s DPP trainings are an integral part of
the association�s mission to improve the quality of care provided to
all men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS.
Shirley Kabwato
Information & Communications Manager
International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care
Africa Regional Office, Johannesburg
South Africa
Tel: +27-11-484-2500
Fax: +27-11-643-5990
mailto:shirley@iapac.org.za
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