A child who died of AIDS is buried in a cemetery on the outskirts of Lusaka. © Tom Pilston (Panos)
Almost two-thirds of Zambia’s population live below the international poverty line – that is, around 7.5 million people. Rates of death and ill health as a result of HIV/AIDS are high, despite a rapid roll-out of treatment, as is the rate of maternal mortality. However, overall poverty levels have improved, with significant gains in urban areas, enrolment rates for primary education are rising, literacy is increasing, immunisation coverage is more widespread and child death rates are falling.