WORLD AIDS DAY AT LINDI

NACOPHA as umbrella organization has a big role to play on the marking of the WAD commemorations. NACOPHA has 96 District cluster in the whole of Tanzania and works with them in their respective regions on all matters concerning PLHIV and key players working in HIV in the country. Through the kind consideration support from EGPAF, NACOPHA was able to successfully participate by traveling to Lindi, working with PLHIV from 4 districts in Lindi, train and do community sensitization.

1. Training of Community Sensitizers

The success of the commemoration included training of PLHIV in public speaking, narrating positive diaries and writing them, issues concerning early pregnancies and their problem and issues of males being involved in PMTCT. Participants from Liwale, Lindi R, Nachingwea and Lindi were involved who amounted to 22. Two facilitators trained and provided group practices especially in public speaking. Most of the participants’ expectations were met.

NACOPHA staff facilitating introductions and logistics

The same topics were used for group discussions. Participants were assigned with group task and required to present them on the next day. The presentations were done using their learned public speaking skills on the importance of male involvement and its advantages and also presented childhood pregnancies, causes and disadvantages

1.1 POSITIVE DIARIES AND RECORD KEEPING

Lindi U cluster secretary presenting a positive diary

1.2 CHILDHOOD PREGNANCIES, CAUSES AND DISADVANTAGES

A Participant explaining causes of childhood pregnancies

Measures to be taken to eliminated childhood pregnancies

1.3 MALE INVOLVEMENT IN PPMTCT

Community educational messages

2. COMMUNITY SENSITIZATION

The team was able to do community sensitization and creating awareness in three different wards. The fist venue was at the Kariakoo market where community leaders had mobilized her people to listen up and ask questions. The PA had a loud and attractive music where the team danced with community members and stopped the music to let people ask questions and questions responded to. Most were mothers with their babies who attended and asked questions

Mothers enjoying a joke made by one team member

Encouraging a shy mother o ask her question

Why are there discordant couples when they still have sex without using condoms? This man wanted to know

Recording questions How will a blind person like me know a person living with HIV?(man with a white stick

The grounds were also entertained by dancing competition of health looking children with one team member

This mother never sent her son (2nd photo) for testing after 18 months because she was not informed. The boy won the dancing competitition which attracted many people. She was advised to take him for checkup

Why did you establish NACOPHA? Does it help orphans go to school?

Dancing to attract community members at Uwanja wa fisi. Is it harmful to do oral sex?

3. NACOPHA PAVILION PREPARATION

Some of the team members stayed in the stadium to prepare our pavilion. Lindi Regional Commissioner officially opened the grounds and checked the ongoing preparations.

The Vice NACOPHA Chairperson explaining issues to the Lindi Regional Commissioner in the NACOPHA pavilion

Ongoing preparations in the Pavilion

4. WORLD AIDS DAY 1SR DECEMBER

Team members prepared themselves to begin the march at the Uwanja wa fisi grounds. All the key players in HIV plus Lindi residents gathered there to begin the WAD march towards the stadium. Many organizations and partners in the fight joined the march to the stadium