Zambians' average life expectancy has drastically fallen from 43 years in 1996 to 37 years today due to the high incidence of disease, particularly HIV/AIDS, according to a UN report.

The incidence of TB has jumped from 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants 15 years ago to more than 500 per 100,000 now, said the 1999-2000 human development report recently released by the UN Development Program (UNDP). According to medical experts, the country's high prevalence of HIV/AIDS (estimated at 19.6 percent) is to blame for the falling life expectancy and rising TB caseload.

© Speak Out Terms of use