FACE AIDS Project Coordinator Blog - September 2009

April 2, 2010

In September we had two seminars for adults: one for single parents, and one for mixed adults. One seminar was held from 3 to 9 September, the other from 24 to 30 September.

At the first seminar, someone asked what a normal CD4 count would be, for a healthy person who does not have HIV. I answered that it depends from person to person, there is no exact number. If people want to know CD4 counts for themselves, they can go to have them calculated. People also asked to know where the VCT centers are in Moba, and how many there are, so that when they go back in Congo they can know where to go and where to tell people to go for testing. I told them that I don’t know, but that we are trying to get more information about HIV/AIDS and treatment, including testing, in Moba.

At the second seminar, one of the students did not believe what I was saying about HIV transmission. The students said that he had heard on BBC that if you are on ARVs, you can’t transmit the virus to someone else. But I disagreed, because I know that if you are on ARVs, you can still transmit HIV. Anyway, I told them that the important point is to be safe and to protect yourself and others.

The employees are working well, but two of them repatriated this month. They are going back to Congo. Even some members of the support group repatriated this month. I advised the support group members that when they will reach Moba, they should go straight to the hospital for counseling and ARVs and to learn what different assistances are available to them in Congo.

I was trained this month for how to do HIV/AIDS testing through AAH. We were 10 people who were trained, 9 workers of AAH and myself. We had four days of training in the camp, where we learned in the classroom. The person in charge of VCT in Mporokoso came to lead the training. He reviewed basic information about HIV/AIDS and the VCT process, which involves pre-test counseling, the test itself, and post-test counseling. Then we went to Mporokoso for two days where we did the practical part of the training and tested people. I tested people, but none of them were positive. I was glad to be trained to do VCT because know I know more about the VCT program, so I can better educate people about it and really promote the VCT program.

FACE AIDS Mwange - November 2009

March 23, 2010

Summary of Project Status and Achievements:

The FACE AIDS program continued to operate as usual this month, finishing strong. Staff conducted door to door outreach and condom distribution in three sections of the camp, taught three seminars and the youth sports program and kept office hours for counseling and condom distribution.

The five remaining members of the support group shared the remaining money in accordance with their constitution. Each member received ZMK 248,000. This marks the end of the support group.

Additionally, the FACE AIDS coordinator also coordinated HIV/AIDS information dissemination at the pre-departure center during November. These activities were successfully conducted five times with no difficulties.

Indicators or Statistics:

Included in the indicators spreadsheet.

Future Goals:

The coordinator will oversee departure centre activities one last time for the convoy on which he will repatriate.

Substantial Problems or issues:

None.

Wishes and Requests:

None.

Budget Status:

Expense monitor to follow.

FACE AIDS Mwange - October 2009

March 23, 2010

Summary of Project Status and Achievements:

The FACE AIDS program continued to operate as usual this month despite a reduced staff. Three staff members repatriated to DRC, leaving FACE AIDS with one coordinator and 15 other employees. They reorganized their schedule in order to conduct door to door outreach and condom distribution in three sections of the camp, as well as to teach two seminars and the youth sports program and to keep office hours for counseling and condom distribution. The support group, however, did not meet this month. Two of the members who had gone to Sumbu for the support group’s business had not yet returned, and two Zambian members of the group who had gone to Ndola to visit family were also not around. The support group still plans to end at the end of November.

Additionally, the FACE AIDS coordinator also coordinated HIV/AIDS information dissemination at the pre-departure center during October. These activities were successfully conducted three times with no difficulties.

Indicators or Statistics:

Included in the indicators spreadsheet.

Future Goals:

The PM is going to send Vasco’s report on HIV/AIDS services in Moba to Mwange via Kawambwa along with the photocopies of pamphlets. This information will be helpful for the FACE AIDS staff and can enhance the content of their information campaigns both in the community and at the pre-departure center during this last month of activities. As a final report for FACE AIDS USA had not been completed at the time of the PM’s departure from Mwange, she will send a brief update on the program to FACE AIDS USA herself.

Substantial Problems or issues:

None.

Wishes and Requests:

None.

Budget Status:

Included in the expense monitor.

FACE AIDS Mwange - September 2009

March 23, 2010

Summary of Project Status and Achievements:

The FACE AIDS program conducted the following activities during September:

• Support Group: During September, the support group did not conduct business, but instead worked to collect all monies belonging to the group before their September meeting in order to divide the money between members. Two female members of the support group repatriated to Congo. The remaining members pooled the money again and are planning to work together to conduct business until the end of November, at which point they have decided to dissolve the support group. The two Zambian support group members, a couple, are planning to try to join a government-run support group in Kalabwe, and two of the three remaining Congolese members of the group are planning to repatriate in December. The last member plans to remain in Mwange until 2010.
• Door to door outreach: This activity was conducted in three sections to inform individuals about prevention of HIV/AIDS and VCT. Due to the fact that some sections have very few inhabitants, outreach was conducted in three of the larger sections of the camp.
• Seminar: FACE AIDS conducted two seminars during September. The first seminar targeted single parents, and the second seminar targeted mixed adults. Attendance at the second seminar was lower than usual due to a meeting for parents at the secondary school.
• Youth Sport Program: An intake began during September and concluded after four Saturday sessions. 40 students completed the program.

Additionally, the FACE AIDS Coordinator continued to manage FORGE’s activities at the pre-departure center in Mwange. Eight FACE AIDS employees and four knitting teachers also participated in these activities, which were conducted twice during September. An IOM employee from Kawambwa, Monica, met with the PM and the FACE AIDS coordinator during the activities for the second convoy. She observed and documented the activities for IOM, and was pleased with FORGE’s implementation in Mwange.

Indicators or Statistics:

Included in the indicators spreadsheet.

Future Goals:

FACE AIDS USA expressed an interest in continuing to be informed about the activities of FACE AIDS Mwange, despite the fact that they are no longer funding the program. The PM and the FACE AIDS coordinator would like to compile a final report on FACE AIDS’ work in Mwange since 2005 to send to FACE AIDS.

Substantial Problems or issues:

None.

Wishes and Requests:

None.

Budget Status:

Included in the expense monitor.

FACE AIDS - August 2009

March 23, 2010

Summary of Project Status and Achievements:

The FACE AIDS program conducted the following activities during August:

• Support Group: During August, the FACE AIDS coordinator met with the support group members to discuss future plans for all of the members, concerning repatriation and the continuation of the business past April 2010, when any remaining Congolese support group members are expected to move to Kala Camp while the Zambian members will remain behind. They continue to work on finding a plan for the future of the support group.
• Door to door outreach: This activity was conducted in three sections to inform individuals about prevention of HIV/AIDS and VCT.
• Seminar: FACE AIDS conducted two seminars during August. One seminar was for young adults chosen from various sectors of the community including churches and sports teams, and another seminar was for adults.
• Youth Sport Program: An intake began during August and concluded after four Saturday sessions. 40 students completed the program.

Additionally, the FACE AIDS Coordinator continued to manage FORGE’s activities at the pre-departure center in Mwange. Eight FACE AIDS employees and four knitting teachers also participated in these activities, which were conducted twice during August.

Indicators or Statistics:

Included in the indicators spreadsheet.

Future Goals:

The PM and the FACE AIDS coordinator are still working together to try to collect information about the HIV/AIDS situation in Congo in order to be able to inform program participants about HIV/AIDS issues in areas of return. Some information is available on the internet, but not a large quantity. Any help on this issue from the Congo side, such as contact information for organizations working with HIV/AIDS in Moba, would be greatly appreciated.

Substantial Problems or issues:

None.

Wishes and Requests:

None.

Budget Status:

Included in the expense monitor.

FACE AIDS Mwange - July 2009

March 23, 2010

Summary of Project Status and Achievements:

The FACE AIDS program conducted the following activities during July:

• Support Group: This month, four members of the support group repatriated to the DRC (albeit separately, with their respective families). They met with clinic officials before their repatriation and were told that they should not have problems continuing their treatment in Moba Kirungu, their intended destination. The hospital in Mporokoso gave a five months’ supply of ARVs to each individual that should last until they are able to find a source of ARVs in DRC. The support group also met before the departure of the members to collect all funds. These funds were then divided by eleven, and the four repatriating members each received 1/11 of the total amount. The other members decided to continue business as usual, and two of them left at the beginning of July to go to buy fish. The FACE AIDS coordinator is going to meet with the support group members during August to discuss future plans for all of the members, concerning repatriation and the continuation of the business past April 2010, when any remaining Congolese support group members are expected to move to Kala Camp while the Zambian members will remain behind.
• Door to door outreach: This activity was conducted in three sections to inform individuals about prevention of HIV/AIDS and VCT.
• Seminar: FACE AIDS conducted two seminars during July. One seminar was for mixed adults, and another seminar was for young adults chosen from various sectors of the community including churches and sports teams. This seminar was also attended by three Zambians who came to Mwange to study auto mechanics but requested permission to attend the seminar to learn about HIV/AIDS.
• Youth Sport Program: An intake began during July and concluded after three Saturday sessions. 40 students completed the program.

Additionally, the PM and the FACE AIDS Coordinator met to agree on a plan for conducting HIV/AIDS activities at the pre-departure center. These activities were conducted twice during July, and ran successfully. The PM and the FACE AIDS Coordinator also met with representatives of World Vision to coordinate activities with them in order to avoid disagreements similar to those experienced last year. The Zambian HIV/AIDS coordinator was agreeable and did not pose objections to operating in conjunction with FORGE at the departure center. The Congolese Peer Educator leader also agreed to work in collaboration with FORGE, although he was unhappy that FORGE would not be able to motivate him for working at the pre-departure center.

Indicators or Statistics:

Included in the indicators spreadsheet.

Future Goals:

The PM and the FACE AIDS coordinator are working together to try to collect information about the HIV/AIDS situation in Congo in order to be able to inform program participants about HIV/AIDS issues in areas of return. Any help on this issue from the Congo side, such as contact information for organizations working with HIV/AIDS in Katanga, would be greatly appreciated.

Substantial Problems or issues:

None.

Wishes and Requests: