From a HIVHope seminar participant in Mumias, Kenya:
OUTREACH REPORTS MATUNGU DISTRICT The following are the activities done after the workshop. Where : Matungu Youth Polytechnic 13th of September 2011 What was done: Conducted teaching on HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. Defined what HIV/AIDS is all about for the youth to differentiate what myths and reality is concerning HIV and AIDS. Facilitated on what V.C.T is all about and encouraged the students to have self confident and participate in counseling for their better future living. What impact has HIV and AIDS left in our society and in the country? Where : Matungu Youth Polytechnic 11th October 2011 What was done: Introduction on positive and negative living after the HIV tests, how does one accept his/her status and what are the importance of ARVS in the plwas? Explained the vital of ARVS and how they operate in ones body cells to help reduce the multiplication of the HIV virus .explained to the students the disadvantages and advantages of not taking ARVS to the PLWAs (adhererance and non-adhererance) Where : ACK Marinda Church (Matungu District) 13th-15th Feb 2012 Who : Christian religious leaders/Muslim religious leaders and entire community What was done: The main topic was about how can we religious leaders/mosques help the society to understand was SSDDIM is towards our infected and affected persons. S=stigma, S=shame,D=discrimination, D=denial, I=in action, M=mis action The response was good and the attendances was 84 people.VCT services was also conducted during the workshop,30 people were tested and 4 participant turned out to be positive. The positives have been referred to the respective health centres for comprehensive care support and ARVS administration. Others have already joined the community welfare HIV and AIDS support groups. And are engaging in farm activities, tailoring, etc. The workshop is to continue after every 3 months. Where : Matungu SDA Secondary School 6th march 2012 What was done: topics covered a. Since it is the youths who are regarded most vulnerable to HIV and AIDS, the definition of HIV and AIDS, its root causes, how it is transmitted, what precautions one should submit to be safe was taught.ABC slogan was also covered during the teaching. b. Defined VCT and its roles to the participants, most of the students were ready for testing even though a few were afraid to do so. We encourage them to have self confidence and not fear because fear is a destructive element to ones conscience. “The motive was, be free to your heart and mind in order to save beautiful future.” c.video shows on how HIV and AIDS is transmitted, how it affect the body cells, what issues pressurizes one to indulge in unsafe sex and several others areas was covered. This system helped so much the students to truly watch from pictures, actions and moral standards on what is required of them. EITHER DON’T OR DO IT AND FACE THE CONSEQUENCES Where Matungu Secondary School 15th of March 2012 students and teachers (200 participant and 6 teachers) What was done : topics covered a. How do teachers and the students relate HIV and AIDS and their surrounding, their church and the entire community? b. Informed the participants on the vital of behavior change, how do they react towards SSDDIM incase there is any? c. Topics on love, shairing, conscience acceptance, to have trust in oneself and other issues was taught to participants to help them understand and support our collegues who are infected or affected. In conducting this workshops we distributed handouts/leaflets with the message of HIVand AIDS, given out condoms to those who were willing to have, and also conducted VCT services (even though others only accepted to be counseled and not tested of their status). CHALLENGES FACED ARE: 1. Yes people accept the information about HIV /AIDS but others are still deep rooted in traditional beliefs, i.e. witchcraft. 2. Some of the participant still have fear shyness and find it difficult to raise their heart felt questions openly (lack of disclosure) 3. Even though the society have been informed of this epidemic, our youths are always in hurry to engage in early sexual intercourse without using the safe precaution methods. This results to hardship in handling them because others when tested will either turn out positive or negative, others total refuse to go the V C T tests 4. Lack of enough information handout and other basic information materials for references during facilitation. Lack of finance to help in commuting from one place to other far areas outside Matungu district. But I have the hope that this shall not hinder us from fighting against the dreadly killer. Together we shall move as one to save Matungu, Kenya, Africa and the whole world.
1 Comment
10/5/2012 06:54:30 am
Interesting thoughts, just wanted to mention I came from Google.
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AuthorDuane Crumb is the Founder and Director of HIVHope. He travels around the world teaching about HIV and AIDS and is the author of, HIV Hope for the Nations. Archives
October 2012
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