Target TB working in partnership with Bwafwano in Zambia

Country/regional profile

Zambia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa. It is land-locked and shares its borders with 8 countries. There are approximately 11 million people living in Zambia, 68% of which live on less than a $1 a day; in rural regions the average is much higher.

TB represents a major health problem in Zambia. In the last 15 years the number TB cases has tripled, mainly as a result of the HIV epidemic and increasing levels of poverty. HIV and TB have a deadly relationship, each speeding up the progress of the other.

Bwafwano’s project activities in Mkushi district have helped many people to be cured of TB, including 26yr old Catherine Kunda.

Bwafwano’s project activities in Mkushi
district have helped many people to be
cured of TB, including 26yr old
Catherine Kunda.

Our work with Bwafwano

Target TB has been working in partnership with Zambian NGO Bwafwano Home Based Care Organisation (Bwafwano) in the Mkushi district since 2003. We were awarded a grant from Comic Relief in 2007 to support a five year integrated TB-HIV programme to raise awareness of TB and HIV/AIDS and improve access to health care services for over 55,000 people.

Project Aims

This project aims to improve access to diagnosis, treatment and support services for people affected by TB and HIV/AIDS in Mkushi district, Zambia. 

Specific project targets include increasing the number of people accessing TB and HIV testing, increasing the number of people on TB and/or anti-retroviral treatment, and improving beneficiares’ welfare through a comprehensive home-based care programme.

Project Activities

  • Direct support to people affected by TB and HIV, including home-based care and support services, basic medicines, nutritional supplements, transport to medical facilities and opportunities for income generating activities.
  • Training local volunteers and peer educators, ensuring they are able to respond effectively to the needs of people affected by TB and HIV in their communities.
  • Awareness raising and advocacy through health talks, street dramas, mass awareness raising events and establishing patient support groups.
  • Establishing sustainable community networks to highlight and respond to the needs of people affected by TB and/or HIV, through collaboration with government health staff, other NGOs and Community Based Organisations.