Zambia Parliamentarian Presentation By Hon Munji Habeenzu

1. Zambia Parliamentarian PresentationBy Hon Munji Habeenzu Building North-South Partnership in Development: Strengthening Cooperation among Members of Parliaments, Civil Servants and NGOs to Promote Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights 13th-16 April, 2010 Finland

2. SRH SITUATION IN ZAMBIA • 36% of households have orphans or foster children under 18 years • 10% women plus 17% men have completed secondary school • Total fertility rate 6.2% children in urban and 7.5 rural • MMR – 591 per 100,000 LBD • 16% women and 12% of men have had sex by 15 years • 27% of married women have unmet need of FP • More than ¼ of 15-19yr have already begun child bearing. • HIV prevalence 14%

3. Challenges • Infrastructure- inadequate delivery and ANC space • Inadequate equipment • Inadequate human resource • Long tender process- delay in EmONC equipment procurement • Poor M&E systems in place • Endless stock outs of commodities due to poor LMIs at user level

4. COUNTRY RESPONSE AND POLICIES • National SRH Policy • National Population Policy • National HIV/AIDS Policy • National Gender Policy • National Family Planning Guideline • National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework • Fifth National Development Plan • National Youth SRH/HIV Training Standards • National comprehensive Abortion Care Guidelines

5. IMPLEMENTING MAPUTO PLAN OF ACTION • Zambia is currently Implementing the MPoA as a continental policy framework for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights • MPoA was agreed upon by Health Ministers to help African Nations to: • Reduce poverty levels • Achieve the MDGs • Reduces maternal mortality, combat HIV/AIDS and, • Reduce infant and child mortality • And was endorsed by African Union heads of state in January 2007

6. Maputo Plan of Action addresses • Reproductive health rights and challenges faced by Africa • Increased resource allocation to health • Mainstreaming Gender issues into socio- economic development • Improvement of SRH commodity security • Placement of SRH as top 6 priorities of the health sector

7. Key Achievements • National Reproductive health policy developed with emphasis on integration at all levels • MNCH partnership formed • Number of policies and guidelines developed • Integration of services of HIV/STI, Malaria, FP, SRH

8. Key Achievements • Introduction of Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAGs)-41/72 so far • Sensitisation of families on Birth preparedness, danger signs and importance of institutional deliveries • RH policy addresses integration of youth friendly services • Capacity building in health workers (Southern Province) • Youth peer educators trained • RH commodity security committee formed • Separate budget line for RH commodities • Logistics management and forecasting done • Increased funding for procurement of FP commodities

9. CAMPAIGN TO ACCELERATE REDUCTION OF MATERNAL MOTALITY IN AFRICA CARMMA • To raise awareness among the Zambian people on maternal mortality and how it can be prevented • To raise the profile of Maternal Mortality in order to enhance political leadership and commitment at national levels to accelerate reduction of maternal mortality • To identify national champions and work with them to leverage resources from stakeholders including local and international. • To promote and strengthen policy and programmatic environment to accelerate achieving MDG 4 & 5.

10. OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE SRH IN ZAMBIA • Political will and commitment • Dialogue with legislator • involveement of the health committeeat MOH • Increased local funding to health • Dialogue with traditional and National leaders

11. CONCLUSION • Universal access to reproductive health services is critical for the achievement of MDG5 and essential to the other MDGs. • The Maputo Plan of Action is the vehicle in Africa for their attainment. • It is time to refocus our efforts on ensuring its success. • CSO have an important role to play and in order to attain MPoA, we need to align our plans and programs to the needs and Priorities of the MPoA.