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The Zambia National AIDS Network
(ZNAN) was established in June 1994 with the primary
objective of promoting liaison, collaboration and
co-ordination among NGOs and CBOs involved in HIV/AIDS
prevention and care. The origins of ZNAN can be traced to
the Regional Conference held in Kenya, Nairobi in 1988.
Participation of Zambian NGOs at this Conference made them
realise that in order to effectively fight the HIV/AIDS
pandemic liaison, collaboration and co-ordination were of
outmost importance. This was because the ethical, technical
and managerial demands and challenges of HIV/AIDS prevention
and mitigation had assumed such high dimensions that they
could not be effectively and efficiently tackled by any one
individual or even a few organisations.
Therefore, it was realised that the point of departure in
combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic was to build solidarity
among NGOs/CBOs involved in HIV/AIDS work. That would make
it possible to unite for a common cause and advocate for
strong social and political will which were seen as being
cardinal to fighting HIV/AIDS. In addition, liaison,
collaboration and co-ordination would make it possible for
NGOs and CBOs to pull their meagre technical, managerial and
financil resources together, with the view to meet the
increased demands and rising expectations from society in
regard to the HIV/AIDS scourge.
Against the background given above, in 1989, the NGOs formed
a National AIDS CO-ordination Committee whose mandate was to
co-ordinate the activities of NGOs and CBOs involved in
HIV/AIDS work. This led to the birth and registration of
ZNAN in 1994.
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