Masimbwe Post-Test Club
Trip Start
Jan 10, 2008
1
10
18
Trip End
Sep 05, 2008
Iringa,
Tanzania
Friday, May 2, 2008
There is a HIV carer in our village, who although has no formal training has been really helpful to us (she has just started hel;ping them take the first supply of ARV's, in Masimbwe, correctly), to begin the group she took us to all the peoples houses who recieve care from her, 16 in total, where we able to introduce ourselves and tell them if they were interested in starting a group
Masimbwe Post-Test Club
. Seeing them in their houses, its obvious how tough life is for them, they still have to farm for hours in the field, they drink un safe water and they have little money to get them to the hospital to get there supply of ARV's. On the day of the first meeting we contacted the chair person of the post-test club in a nearby village, she is also living with HIV. All 16 people turned up, which involves two kids, this gave me and Innocent the sign that these people really want and need something to keep them motivated or help them in life. The chair person, Tumwendile Mtitu, is an amazing lady and spoke passionately about the importance of being open to make the group work and how it can help all those who are not open see that there is care and support for them if they agree. They all agreed to be open that day!How the group will work is that every member will put in 2000 Tsh to join the group, thats the equivalent to 1 pound, but a lot of money for them, they will then have to put in a further 500 Tsh every month, this is to show there commitment to the group. With the starting amount of money we will help them set up a bank account for themselves. We will then try and get sponsorships for them, which we will put into this account. With this money we will use it to help them set up sustainable projects for themselves, the main one is to keep pigs. This will provide them with good meat to boost there protein intake and an easier way to produce income then working hard in the fields. The money will also go towards paying transport fees in order for them to get medical treatment and gfet their ARV supplies and for other improvements in lifestyle e.g. bottles for safe-water, extra blankets, mosquito nets and extra medication. Our main problem in all this is how we get the sponsorships, I am hoping that I will be able to get some donations from England, as the exchange rate is so huge, even ten pounds is a huge amount for them, but the main problem is how do people donate straight into the clubs bank account. This I do not know, so if any one can help me please contact me! The alternatives we have looked into is setting this up as a registered charity, which is a long and difficult process maybe a bit to above me and the other is getting one of our members onto our course for training about running post-test clubs, this would be done through a charitable organisation which would be able to receive donation for us. This will be currently what we will try to do in the immediate future. For the time being if anyone would really like to sponsor this group I think the only way would be to give money to my parents, which I can get out in Tanzania, this would be great in order to get one of the projects up and away.
For the time being we are going to use our group to help us with our SPW activities, if they are willing to help. On the 21st of May we are having a Festival all on HIV and Aids, we plan to teach them all the main facts, transmission, protection and the need to get tested. We are hoping ome of the members will talk about the group so people know support if there for them if they need it. We will then talk about the importance of getting tested and we have organised a VCT (Voluntary Counciling and Testing Service) to come after the speeches for those who want to get tested. Our group will therefore be there to provide long term support for those who find out they are positive and be willing to let new members in.
So thats our plan, its hard work and we have already been on many an errand for these people to try and improve their medication supply. One day I walked/ ran 17km in between peer-educating and classes to try and get letters and forms from various health centres to move their medication supply to a walkable distance for them. I think it will be really worthwhile, but I have never engaged in anything like this before so if anyone has any words of wisdom or advice for me, please dont hesistate to contact me. Researh is difficult out here aswell so anything would be a helping hand. You can even give me a ring +255763517894.
Asanti Sana
