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NGO launches HIV/Aids project in Temeke
2006-05-12 12:48:49
By Haruni Sanchawa
A non-Governmental Organisation, VUKA Tanzania, has launched a strategic community involvement programme in the fight against HIV/Aids infection in Temeke, Dar es Salaam.
The programme, involves care and support for those already infected.
The Project Co-ordinator, Jacob Kayombo said the initiative was necessitated by research findings that established absence of intensive community involvement in care and support for AIDS sufferers.
He was addressing the media in Dar es Salaam recently.
Kayombo said the aim of the project was to restore hope to those infected and affected by the pandemic and suffered isolation by the community and the pain from the disease.
’It was against this background that VUKA decided to form the organisation to closely supervise activities related to care and support for people infected and affected by AIDS,’ said Kayombo’.
Among other objectives, said Kayombo, VUKA would work out strategies to create the awareness in the society on need to respect human rights in order to avoid mistreatment of the affected people.
He said among other objectives, VUKA would share knowledge with the community on health education, encourage voluntary counseling and testing for HIV and inform the public about the urge to shun stigma.
Under the financial support from the Royal Danish Embassy through the Danish International Development Agency, DANIDA, VUKA has continued to provide treatment, sustainable counseling, and better nutrition to the poorest people infected by HIV.
VUKA has also provided home-based care facilities worth 7.5m/- to 372 community volunteers within Temeke Municipality.
’We have been able to motivate the general public on voluntary HIV testing and 816 people have undergone the test to certify their health status,’ Kayombo said.
The organisation has provided a forum for people infected by HIV to speak out and some successfully convinced people to undergo voluntary testing.
He paid tribute to the office of Temeke Municipal Mayor, Jerome Bwanausi who pledged support to the organisation to facilitate the attainment of its objectives in reducing the rate of infection within the municipality.
A total of 372 community volunteers were trained on how to care for people living with HIV/Aids through series of training workshops organised by VUKA.
”In addition, Kayombo said more than 800 community members have undergone special education on the provision of home care services to 483 patients.
Under the initiative, Kayombo said over 600 people living with HIV/Aids have been assisted to start income generating projects worth 30m/- from Tanzania Commission for Aids (TACAIDS).
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