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The HIV and AIDS pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on Africa, particularly in the southern region, where as much as 20 percent of the population in many countries are affected. While political leaders in countries throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC [3]) are making a concerted effort to respond to this public health emergency, other leaders struggle to meet the political, economic and social challenges the epidemic poses.

Current Activities

In an effort to better understand how legislatures have responded to the crisis and to identify areas where assistance might be helpful, NDI, in partnership with the Southern Africa Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), assessed efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the 12-country SADC. The program culminated in a report, Survey of Legislative Efforts to Combat HIV/AIDS in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region [4], which concludes that parliamentarians are not fully addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis. The report also highlights areas where parliamentarians can use their influence to address the epidemic.

Based on the survey findings, NDI began pilot programs in two countries — Mozambique and Namibia — to strengthen parliamentary leadership and outreach on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care.

• Mozambique: In Mozambique, NDI supported legislators conducting public outreach, and NDI helped the national assembly pass new legislation to prevent discrimination against people living with HIV.
• Namibia: In Namibia, NDI organized a series of forums for parliamentarians to learn about successful business-led initiatives on HIV workplace programs to use as models for national prevention programs.
• Zambia: NDI subsequently received support from the National Endowment for Democracy to help lawmakers in Zambia develop HIV-awareness campaigns using the country’s extensive network of community-based radio stations. Legislators discussed the drivers of HIV, infection such as multiple concurrent partnerships, inadequate condom use and alcohol abuse. The campaigns were designed to raise awareness and to disseminate promotional information on responses proven to be effective.
• Lesotho: In Lesotho, the Institute helped legislators develop a strategic HIV/AIDS plan. The Institute assisted the national assembly and senate committees on HIV/AIDS to work more closely with civil society, the National AIDS Council and the Ministry of Health for a more coordinated response to HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

NDI projects have helped to: bridge the knowledge gap between members of parliament (MPs) and public health experts; facilitate improved legislative-executive coordination in responding to the epidemic; strengthen relationships between MPs and civic groups; promote dialogue and information sharing with the private sector; and enable MPs to monitor and oversee the HIV/AIDS response.

NDI is now in the process of updating findings of its Survey of Legislative Efforts to Combat HIV/AIDS in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region [4]. The Institute is working with the SADC PF, legislative health committees, public health officials and civil society to assess citizen perceptions on elected officials’ responses to HIV/AIDS by using data-gathering methods. In an effort to increase the engagement of national legislatures in HIV/AIDS policy review, oversight and lawmaking, the assessment findings will be documented in a report to be presented at the SADC PF plenary assembly in October 2011.

Contact Information

For more information about these programs, use our contact form [5].

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