PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care Work

SWAZILAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GENDER JUSTICE SUMMIT AND AWARDS 23-25 APRIL 2012 KOPANONG HOTEL - JOHANNESBURG 365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END VIOLENCE AND EMPOWER WOMEN

CARE WORK

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING THIS PROBLEM?

Monthly reports from community health workers reflected that the issue of home delivery was still common in the areas where they live Also from the reports mentioned above it was evident that sickness mortality among children was also high, for example dehydration, skin infections, respiratory infections etc. More evidence on the issue of HIV and AIDS among expectant mothers was sourced from statistic from the two Municipal Council clinics. Community dialogues proved that there is a gap in terms information and services on the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and AIDS (PMTCT).

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and

Care Work

PMTCT SERVICES

IS THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT?

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care
Yes it is very important in the sense that according to the human rights declaration every human being including children have a right to life in that way it became imperative to ensure that children are protected from HIV. It is also important in the sense that Women are given PMTCT services as well as other health services together with their families, it prolongs the lives of women as they play a vital role in the development of their communities.

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PMTCT SERVICES

HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM?

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care
Firstly, regular community dialogues were conducted to ascertain the magnitude of the problem and get to know how the community thinks or perceive the problem so as to come up with in house solutions to the problem. Mothers were taught about the benefits of PMTCT at their homes through door-to-door visits and community meetings. At first men were reluctant to participate in this programme due to societal norms and stereotypes inherent in the Swazi culture. This challenge required that dialogues targeted at men only were conducted in their hang out places like in soccer matches, church and workplaces. This helped to bring on board the male partners.

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PMTCT SERVICES

WHAT IS THE TIME-FRAME FOR THE PROJECT?

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care

36 months initial funding period from 2010, with possible expansion with funding.
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PMTCT SERVICES

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care Work

WHO IS THE KEY TARGET? WHO IS INVOLVED? ARE WOMEN AND MEN EQUALLY INVOLVED?
The key target is women and their children. There is also an effort to bring men on board for this programme to be successful and sustainable. We have successfully made links with all local health facilities so as to make sure that services are provided in a sort of continuum. Men in different formations also participated in the PMTCT programme through community dialogues and sports and they have been equally involved and their needs considered. Family days were also held to encourage working together among men and women in the programme.

NAME OF GOOD PRACTISE

PARTNERSHIPS FORMED THROUGH THE PROJECT

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care
Finances were received from Elizabeth Glazer Peadiatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF). These were used to train community volunteers who in turn were responsible for conducting door to door visits and promote the programme as well as educate both men and women about the programme as well as make services known to the people. Part of the funds were used to print out monthly report templates for volunteer as well as monthly stipends. Even after the funding elapsed these community volunteers are still visiting homes and educating residents on the programme. They are encouraging residents to go for HIV tests and enrol in the PMTCT programme for those that are eligible.

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NAME OF GOOD PRACTISE

RESOURCEFULNESS: WHAT FINANCIAL, HUMAN AND OTHER RESOURCES WERE MOBILISED?

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care
Finances were received from Elizabeth Glazer Peadiatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF). These were used to train community volunteers who in turn were responsible for conducting door to door visits and promote the programme as well as educate both men and women about the programme and make services known to the people. Part of the funds were used to print out monthly report templates for volunteer as well as monthly stipends. Even after the funding elapsed these community volunteers are still visiting homes and educating residents on the programme. They are encouraging residents to go for HIV tests and enrol in the PMTCT programme for those that are eligible.

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PMTCT SERVICES

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care

CREATIVITY: ARE YOU USING ARTS, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO POPULARISE THE ISSUES?
Articles on the programme were shown in newspapers and newsletters. Drama performances were also used to push forward the PMTCT agenda as well as dispel misconceptions and stereotypes towards PMTCT. Information pamphlets were distributed in varios societal groups to raise awareness on the programme of which some were printed in venecular to reach even the illiterate.

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PMTCT SERVICES

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care
Community health workers produce monthly reports on the programme. These are checked by the AIDS Programme Manager and used to track progress and also measure the extent of achievement of project goals. Spot checks through door to door visits are done. Work

PMTCT SERVICES

WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care

Communities are more aware of the programme and services available. Less children are born with HIV. Even those that are born with HIV they get treatment and can live longer. Men are more knowledgeable and interested in the health of their children (male involvement)

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PMTCT SERVICES

IMPACT (BASED ON THE SADC PROTOCOL TARGETS)

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care
This project is helping to achieve article 27 in the sense that women are now receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS with their babies as well as other health care services in accordance with, but not limited to, the Maseru Declaration on HIV and AIDS. Work

PMTCT SERVICES

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care Work Yes it is sustainable in the sense that community people were trained and are the ones implementing it at community level and the degree of ownership and understanding how this programme is important that resulted means they will be willing to continue with it even after funding has elapsed. This can allow for replication through communities learning from one another.

PMTCT SERVICES

LESSONS LEARNED
PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care Work Culture is dynamic and stereotypes and misconceptions can be broken if communities work together. Knowledge is power and if you educate a women, you educate the whole community in the sense that the women enrolled in the programme were also passing the education to their partners and families. The availability of services do not necessarily mean people are accessing them, social marketing of services should be done, peoples perceptions brought into perspective and ensure that there is a way of bringing the services to the people.

PMTCT SERVICES

PROJECTS: HIV/AIDS and Care Work

ANY QUESTIONS?

PMTCT SERVICES