In this talk, Idah Mukuka Nambeya – an internationally-recognized HIV/AIDS activist from Zambia – reflects on the history of African HIV/AIDS activism and the current challenges facing community organizations due to the recent USAID freeze. During the 2000s, many grassroots organizations relied heavily on USAID to fund their programs and initiatives aimed at combating the AIDS epidemic. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), launched in 2004, was a major source of funding and support for these organizations.
However, the recent freeze on USAID has created a challenging environment for these organizations. Many have had to halt their activities and programs due to a lack of funding. This has had a direct impact on the communities they serve, as access to essential services such as HIV testing, treatment, and prevention has been disrupted.
In Zambia, grassroots organizations have played a crucial role in raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, providing education and support to affected individuals, and advocating for policy changes. The USAID freeze has put these efforts at risk, making it more difficult for these organizations to continue their work and support the communities that rely on them.
About The Speaker
Idah Mukuka Nambeya just completed her master’s in history at the University of Waterloo in Canada. She is the Senior Advisor to the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s (SLF) Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, working with African and Canadian grandmothers alike to strengthen the bonds of solidarity. She is a passionate HIV activist and gifted counsellor based in Lusaka, Zambia. Idah’s leadership and activism earned her a fellowship to study at the Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. While studying at St. FX, she was awarded the Katherine Flemming Award for International Development. In 2005, Idah completed her studies and returned home to Zambia where she was nominated for and received with the Red Ribbon Award, an award to recognize her contributions on HIV & AIDS and community service. Her remarkable story is chronicled in Stephanie Nolen’s book, 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa.
For nine years, Idah was one of the SLF’s trusted field representatives, using her extensive knowledge and experience to help build the capacity of grassroots AIDS organizations throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Location Information
200 University Avenue West
Room 117
Waterloo, ON, CA N2L 3G1
