Completely landlocked, Zambia is located in central southern Africa, between 9o and 17o south of the equator and the climate is tropical with a rainy season.
It has an area of 752,618 sq km
The population is 17.4 million
More than 70 languages are spoken amongst more than 20 ethnic groups
66% of the population are under 24
Life expectancy averages 53 years
HIV rate is 11%, approximately 1.2 million people
GDP $68 billion/$4000 per head
Government expenditure $6.35 billion
54% of the population live below the poverty line
Health expenditure 5% GDP
These figures are taken from the World Factbook, a publication of the US Central Intelligence Agency and are were checked in March 2020.
MENTAL HEALTH IN ZAMBIA
Mental Health services in Zambia are significantly under-resourced
Services are focused on one hospital in Lusaka with some regional services attached to district hospitals
There are few community psychiatric services and some areas have no mental health provision at all
A shortage of staff & resources leads to a pharmacological-based approach to treatment
High levels of stigma are attached to mental ill health
The UN Sustainable Development Goals 2015 include to “promote mental health & wellbeing” for the first time
An aim of the WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013-20 is to “provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings”