One in eight adults have HIV/AIDS

With around one in eight adults in Zambia living with HIV/AIDS, the country has been one of the worst-affected by the epidemic. Early deaths have deprived Zambia of skilled workers and created a growing number of orphaned children.

HIV/AIDS kills around 50,000 Zambians each year and has left around 700,000 orphans.

Malnutrition from poverty

Malnutrition, caused by endemic poverty, is also widespread in the country, particularly in rural areas.

Nearly half of all children under five are stunted, while 15% are severely malnourished and underweight.

For every 1,000 live births, nearly 150 infants will die in Zambia before they reach five years of age.

Resurgence of malaria

Malaria is an additional problem in Zambia, where around three million cases are reported every year. Over the last decade, measures have been taken to reduce infections, including the widespread dissemination of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

Mosquito nets are now used by two-thirds of households.

Despite a significant reduction in cases since 2000, malaria is proving hard to control and there has recently been a resurgence of cases in some areas.

One doctor per 10,000 people

Considerable investment was made in the healthcare system following independence. Zambia has a number of general and smaller hospitals (some of them missionary-run) in towns, as well as a network of rural health centres. A policy of free healthcare was adopted in the late 1970s, although services today suffer from a severe shortage of doctors and specialist staff.

According to the World Health Organization, there is only one doctor for every 10,000 people in Zambia.