Wishing you PEACE OF MIND over the festive season!

This is the last blog for 2014 and I will be taking a break in January to progress some of those ongoing materials that the blogs have discussed (and a few new ones too!).

So Merry Christmas everyone (thought this little notebook picture with the nutcracker solider was just up our street in materials development).

December is known as a month for PEACE and hot on the heels of WORLD AIDS DAY, peace of mind can also come from knowing your HIV status! I know, Do you know? Does your family know?

The I Know campaign here in Zimbabwe hoped to reach at least 120,000 people over a ten day period for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT). I hope many more have a chance to reflect on the benefits of getting tested over the festive seasons and, like the 16 days of activism, these 10 campaign days become the basis of a 365 days of access to VCT! Stigma is a hard nut to crack and still remains high for people living with HIV. Let's normalise HIV testing, it is a manageable condition.

Need to know more on HIV testing, treatment and care, get in touch with a service provider near you!

Wishing you and your family all that you would wish for yourself in 2015.

What to do if you have been raped!

This week I am keeping it very very simple.

The 16 days of activism against gender based violence has started. In essence it should be 365 days, but these 16 days are to highlight INTENSLY the need for a violence free world and one where women and girls, men and boys live together in harmony.

In Zimbabwe, the National Statistics Office told us this year that in May 2014, 570 women were sexually assaulted- that is 15 women every day subjected to this terrible trauma. Statistics elsewhere do not look much better. Much of it driven by povery.

Our recent efforts as SAfAIDS under our SCORE (Sustainable Communities of Real Excellence) programme baseline survey in four southern african countries gave us realtime information about Sexual Gender Baseed Violence (SGBV) across the age groups - we are very concerned about young people aged 16/17 years, the most vulnerbale age for SGBV.

We are busy crunching the data but this gave me the added impetus to support a local partner here at the Regional Office in Zimbabwe, Adult Rape Clinic, who, with the support of UNFPA and others are rolling out amazing training support in 23 districts that involves medical and legal issues to ensure that those rape cases that are reported are handly well and get all the way to court.

JUSTICE AS PREVENTION!

Our small but important contribution is to print this leaflet for wide distrbution. Go on, be part of it, print and share this with at least one other person. or drag and drop it into your email list and share with EVERYONE.

Well done you!

Bisexual or Intersex?

That got your attention!

This weeks blog is looking at materials that help in understanding sexuality. It's very important. Confusion leads to all kinds of problems. 

The main problem being the first three letters of the word sexuality. Stop giggling!  

SAfAIDS has this groovy programme that has young people right at the centre - Young4Real. It trains young people to understand the fundamentals of sexual and reproductive health (SRH). And because this is life changing for so many young people involved, these same young people become champions and trainers themselves. 

Given the social and cultural taboos around talking about sex with parents, young people, inevitably, get their SRH information from other young people.  


For example, last week SAfAIDS Zimbabwe Country Team were out conducting training with partners using our time-tested YPISA Toolkit. This is when it was discovered that the terms bisexual and intersex were really not well understood. Even the parents needed some support in these tricky areas. 

I am not just being dramatic, there is a lot of confusion. Take the example of the young women in the training who, when discussing STIs, said they had been told that there was an old man in the village who could cure young women of STIs if they slept with him. 

Thankfully we train as teams so local health partners and Ministry of Education were there also. Afterall, it takes a village to raise a child. 

The great news is that tthe Y4R programme is soon to be rolled out formally in Zambia, Swaziland and South Africa, as it seems that young people still have little or no access to the information and services they need to make healthy, informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives.  So watch this space as we adapt these materials to have regional appeal.

Governments and leaders across Africa, and beyond, have repeatedly agreed to meet young people's needs, including those relating to sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Check out the tables below:

So let us give them a helping hand. Supply and demand on SRH services for young people is critical.

When is a cure not a cure...when it is undetectable!

Stories of Shattered Hope is a sharing and learning booklet SAfAIDS researched and documented this year with the assistance of the local Zimbabwe UNAIDS office.

The booklet shares experiences of eight women from across the north and south of Zimbabwe who are living with HIV and who at some point in their lives have sought faith-healing on their journey to self-acceptance and wellness. Women and girls remain at higher risk of HIV infection, six times more so than boys and men. Together we can keep each other safe, knowledge IS the power to make a difference!

The stories are not hopeless, but hopefull. 

But not everything goes well, and not all advice is good!

Self-stigma prevented Memory seeking the advice she needed from health facilities and instead she turned to prophets who did not understand HIV.

Otilia and her husband really believed that the prophets in her church had the power to cure HIV, they lost a child and another was born HIV positive.

Why a booklet? 

Adherence to ARV treatment is SO important, too important to not talk about the difficult issues. Especially when people tell us they are cured. Are they?

Medicines are God-Given, even if the are man-made, is the message from Rev. Chiponda.

This booklet’s key messages are:

• HIV and AIDS is a health issue (not demonic or a curse) let us ALL attack it from a health perspective.
• We also need to understand healing in the context of cure– there is no cure for HIV now, only God-given ARVs.
• Church leaders must know the facts about HIV to best support their congregations.

Get in touch to know more about this booklet. 

Information TO the people!

One of the most important things you can do as an information warrior (that's me :D) is take information to where the people are. And they are increasingly on the internet! So many publications and information sources are now going online.

In Africa, you will most likely find the masses on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Yookos, Mxit and Tumblr. So HELLO all of you, hope you are finding this blog edu-taining!

Taking information to the people is not new, SAfAIDS have been doing it for YONKS! As far back as the 1990's SAfAIDS realised that most of the people to be reached with HIV information were at work. So materials were designed for people at work.

The material being showcased in this weeks blog is our time tested and much loved Workplace Wellness Toolkit, supported by Hivos and Stop AIDS Now as well as Sweden-Norad and Oxfam.


Studies suggest that on average, an employee with a chronic illness such as Diabetes Mellitus, HIV or TB, can lose 3 - 4 months of work per year, resulting in potential losses of 20–30% of their annual household income.

The Workplace Wellness Toolkit moved our workplace support materials away from purely HIV to include gender, TB, GBV, lifestyle, culture and a much broader focus on health issues that affect the world of work. It has a number of different parts. So far, the package looks like this:

The Workplace Wellness Toolkit basically comprises of five main materials:

• The Know Much More about Advocacy in the Workplace Manual
• Know Much More about HIV Booklet
• Men as Protectors Preventing HIV and GBV Booklet
• Know Much More about Sexual and Reproductive Health 
• The Wellness@Work Magazine

Comprehensive Employee Wellness Programmes help companies:

Reduce absenteeism

Increase productivity

Lower life insurance premiums

Increase staff morale  

Improve corporate image and corporate clout 

The most recent additions have been the second Workplace Wellness Magazine and the Promoting Good Practices Booklet. Both new pieces, like the original toolkit were based on information gathered from the end user group. An online Monkey Survey of readers from the first edition of the Workplace Wellness Magazine informed the content of the second edition (lots of new information on non communicable diseases and stress management - sign of the times for sure!).

The Good Practices Booklet looked closely at some successful projects in Zimbabwe and South Africa and unpacked some of the characteristics of their effectiveness, so everyone can improve their efforts (this included cost effectiveness for those budget conscious readers!).

SAfAIDS is currently updating its Workplace Support Programme and Organisational Outreach Support Packages- I am sure there is one to suit you so do get in touch.

An Adolescents' HIV Prevention and Treatment Toolkit for Eastern and Southern Africa

Building on the exciting workshop with UNESCO and their country offices and government and civil society partners last week, I thought it would be pertinant to share another resource recently developed with their guidance.

The Adolescents' HIV Prevention and Treatment Toolkit emerged from the the "My Big Story Book - Learners & Teachers Tell their Stories of Living Positively with HIV" : A Practical Guide for Teachers, published by UNESCO in 2013.

This guide includes background information as well as lesson plans to tackle issues such as stigma and discrimination, disclosure, caring for each other, becoming an HIV champion and reaching out to others in the community on HIV issues. It uses an exciting PhotoVoice methodology.

Fact 1: Evidence shows us that 52% of all new infections among young people occur in Eastern and Southern Africa. 

Fact 2: Fewer than 40% of young people in the region have basic information about HIV.

The Adolescents' Toolkit developed in partnership with SAfAIDS has several pieces which together make up the Young Champions Support Pack, for use and dissemination in schools. There is a facilitators guide aimed at teachers, school staff and counsellors that uses a training of trainers approach so that those introduced to the pack can teach others how to use it.

There is a reference handbook for all those trained as a training take-away and go-to resources for facts and other information on HIV Prevention and Treatment relating to adolescents.

As the pack is for young people themselves, helping them know more and encouraging them to be young champions for change, there are three age appropriate workbooks that take young people through what they need to know about HIV prevention and treament in a fun way.

And because it is school based there are 11 Educators Cards to prompt discussion at appropriate times in the classroom.

UNESCO are rolling out these kits across Eastern and Southern Africa. At SAfAIDS we have 200 of these kits to use creatively with school based and school linked partners. Excitingly, this Young Champion Support Pack crosss over to out of school youth (including young married couples).

Thre are also the usual SAfAIDS games, quiz cards (colour coded for differnt topics), stickers and a poster for all to have fun with.

Want to know more? Get in touch on info@safaids.net

You want it- we've got it!

Young people are our future, let's keep them safe! 

Materials to support the engagement of the community on comprehensive sexuality education across Eastern and Southern Africa

The meeting is over! What an intense and interesting few days. We now have creative briefs for several materials:

• A Capacity Building Manual to help improve delivery and uptake of CSE services at community level targeted at schools and CSOs
• A CSE Community Toolkit targeting parents and other community gatekeepers to improve their engagement
• An IEC guide to support the production of campaign materials specifically aimed at traditional, political and religious leaders so that messages are harmonised and appropriate to local situations and needs
• A 'How To' Guide on conducting community dialogues on CSE with a special emphasis on intergenerational dialogues

As a follow-up at country level there will be a process of CSE service mapping so that communities, when sensitised and mobilised, have a community level roadmap of CSE services at hand. Knowing where, when and how to access services is critical.

Thanks to all the lovely participants for their attendance- beautiful human beings one and all!
Watch this blog space for launch of the materials in 2015.

Materials and multi-media approaches to engaging communities on taboo topics

Today we has lots of fun discussing the important interaction of materials, media and face-to-face meetings. We were sharing the lessons from the region around community dialogues and how to facilitate discussions between the ages (intergenerational dialogues).

No better way to get the discussion going than role-play activities. What a morning we had. Kick started by our own Positive Talk TV Host Tariro Chikumbire, we were challenged to come up with a guide to help parents, guardians and other community gatekeepers use cultural practices positively to support young peoples access to comprehensive sexuality education.

The group work really got us thinking and once we stimulated the discussion with an especially dynamic episode of Positive Talk TV Zimbabwe that focused on Menstrual Hygiene Management, the participants rolled up their sleeves and began to role play discussions with community members on this very taboo topic of sexuality. At times we had to throw our hands up and start again! In the end we got there and drafted the content frameworks for a regional guideline on conducting intergenerational dialogues and discussed key messages for community gatekeepers.

The success of this meeting is the collaboration between the facilitators and the participants. These participants are awesome- meet the remaining country team members from Malawi, Uganda and Lesotho.

 A one lady team from Lesotho: Itumeleng Motemekoane, from PHELA in Lesotho

 Team Uganda: Agnes Asulo, Uganda AIDS Council and Godfrey Walakira, Straight Talk

Team Malawi: Jessie Kazembe, UNESCO and Simon Sikwese, Pakachoe (missing Naireti Molande)

Tomorrow we conclude with some action plans and formalising a regional mentoring network on scaling up CSE and engaging community members on this important issue.

What do Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia have in common?

These amazing people working to support a happy healthy Africa through the promotion of comprehensive sexuality education :D

Meet our dynamic country teams giving their time and energy to supporting community engagement on comprehensive sexuality education.

 Team Mozambique (left to right): Salvador Matavele, Nation Institute for Curriculum Development, Marcal Monteiro, Nweti Health Communication, Angelina Tivane and Noel Chicuecue, UNESCO.

 Team Tanzania (left to right): Mathias Herman, UNESCO, Dr. Elizabeth Mapella, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Lulu Ng'wanakilala, UMATI

Team Zambia (left to right): Alicegreg Saili, UNESCO, Chrispin Chombo, SAfAIDS, Exilda Gondwe, Ministry of Education

What is Comprehensive Sexuality Education (it's not just sex you know...)?

Sexuality education is defined as an age-appropriate, culturally relevant approach to teaching about sex and relationships by providing scientifically accurate, realistic, non-judgemental information. Sexuality education provides an opportunity to explore values and attitudes and to build decision-making, communication and risk reduction skills about many aspects of a young person health.

It is linked to youth friendly services...which rely on community engagement..which is tricky because young people receive sexuality education that their parents do not always have access to...

...but more tomorrow. In the meantime check out this site.

Later and safer sex - the benefits of comprehensive sexuality education for young people

52% of all new HIV infections amongst young people occur in Eastern and Southern Africa, and as many as six in ten of all young women have had a child by the time they reach 19 years old. These facts and others have seen SIDA-NORAD join forces with UNESCO to scale-up and roll-out comprehensive sexual education in the region. Many young people across Africa grow into adolescence and adulthood with inadequate knowledge about their reproductive health and sexuality.

Why? Good question. While we think about it, this knowledge gap has consequences:

• High rates of HIV infection; with young women (15-24 years) as much as six times more likely to be infected
• High levels of teenage pregnancy
• Persistent gender inequality and human rights violations
• Sexually transmitted infections, including HIV
• Harmful gender norms about masculinity and femininity

This week, tasked by UNESCO,  SAfAIDS is spearheading the development of materials targeted at encouraging community engagement in comprehensive education in support of an enabling environment for young people to access sexual and reproductive health information and services. We have representatives from government education and health ministries,  civil society organisations and UN development partners from six countries all in the same room. It's amazing. Here are some highlights:

We have four days to agree on the materials, produce a creative brief and outline the content frameworks. Big task. But that's SAfAIDS for you, we have tools, techniques and a time-tested material development model. 

Thank you UNESCO Regional Team for supporting this pioneering meeting and the mentoring/support network that will emerge from the multi-country collaboration. Watch this space. Tomorrow we will start to showcase the country team members whose energy and enthusiasm are making this happen. 

T

At the heart of the African Community is a woman we need to support!

“In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls and young women are up to five times more likely to get HIV as young men, and HIV is the biggest killer among women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries,” said Michael Kirby, an HIV campaigner who also spoke at the opening ceremony at AIDS 2014 in July this year in Melbourne, Australia.

SAfAIDS includes all community members in its efforts to help Africa realise its sexual and reproductive health and rights and be free from the burden of HIV, TB and other related development health issues! 

At the heart of any African community there is a woman and it is from the heart that the Women's Treatment Literacy Toolkit was developed.

Stigma and discrimination disconnects the head and the heart!  

When this toolkit was launched in Zimbabwe in 2006 it reached 5000 urban and rural women in its first year! To boost its reach, media programmes were conducted (in English and local languages) discussing the issues and re-enacting the stories inside that range from getting tested, treatment and its effects on the body, as well as the importance of treatment buddies for good adherence and feelings of well-being.

Today the toolkit is available online from our website so you can share download them and share them on resource centre computers or print copies as needed for discussion and dissemination.

http://www.safaids.net/?q=node/20

SAfAIDS continues to encourage the wide and extensive application and dissemination of this publication within communities, civil society, religious sectors, policy making and legal fraternities, clinical practitioners, private sector and groups of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). Thanks must go to the original funding partners American Jewish World Services (AJWS) and ActionAid International. its lively cartoons and regional stories make it as relevant today as is was when it was produced. 

The colourful toolkit has since been translated into Shona and Ndebele, the vernacular languages used in Zimbabwe, and Portuguese for Lusophone speaking countries.

Interested in women’s treatment issues? Then get in touch, we will be happy to work with you to get this kit into your integrated health programmes across the region.

HIV is not a death sentence, we can move on and support those already infected to live happily and well. Our mothers, daughters, sisters and aunts are precious - let's support them! 

Knowledge gives life!

A parent living with HIV has a lot to think about. So many emotions, so many fears. One of these fears is telling their children, young or old, their HIV status. Another fear is that their children may also have HIV and feelings of shame and blame can feel just impossible. Thirty years on, stigma and discrimination is still with us as communities, families and as individuals in the form of self-stigma!


HIV is NOT a death sentence. This is the focus of the SAfAIDS Children's ART Literacy Series. 'Knowledge gives life' reads one of the stickers in the package. How true.

Giving life to children goes beyond birth. Giving life is also about living. A happy and fulfilled life is a gift that parents, guardians and families of children living with HIV can give when careful and loving disclosure to their children about their status comes together with an easy and fun way to manage the medicines that children living with HIV need to stay healthy and strong. They may be young, but children do have a right to know the things that affect their lives.

In 2008 SAfAIDS understood that this was a gap that needed filled. They put together this wonderful package to help parents and caregivers and service providers support children with and through
their treatment. This package was produced with the help of our visionary funders, but today we see there may be need to update and begin to use it again.

Do you know your status? 

Do your children know their status? 

Want to use this kit? If you want an e-copy of this kit, it is available from our online catalogue. Just follow this link:

http://www.safaids.net/content/kids-art-education-series-childrens-treatment-literacy-toolkit

Want to update this kit? Come talk to SAfAIDS, we can make a plan!