I: VCT – VOLUNTARY COUNSELLING AND TESTING

One major part of the HIV/AIDS-involvement is VCT – Voluntary counselling and testing. VCT services are offered in 4 permanent centers:

Musoma Dispensary, Bweri Dispensary, Bunda Dispensary and Busambara VCT center. Five Counsellors are doing about 400 tests each month,

In connection with the mobile clinics in 7 villages once a month, VCT is offered and about 30-50 tests are done per day and village.
The aim of VCT is helping people to change their behaviour as well as to give new hope and directions for those found HIV-positive.

II: KAZA ROHO

A main part of this care are the so called KAZA ROHO groups.
KAZA ROHO means: “Be strong! Don’t give up!” and is the name of self-help groups of PLWH/A. The groups meet regularly once or twice a week with the aim of mutual encouragement, fellowship and learning about and producing natural medicine.

At the moment, 4 groups are existing:

• • Musoma: The group has about 40 regular participants.
  • Bunda: The Kaza Roho group has about 15 members.
  • Manyamanyama (a village close to Bunda): The group started off in 2011 and has about 15 members.
  • Kitengule (a village near Bunda): The group started in 2010 with 5 people, by now 12 PLWH/A meet regularly.

In the village context where stigmatization is still very present, courage is needed to talk openly about AIDS and the group is a place of acceptance and home for the Kaza Roho members.

In Musoma, a Kaza Roho choir was started some years ago: Songs about AIDS, against stigmatisation, songs of hope for those infected and affected. The choir is singing in churches, community meetings and schools.

III: COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION ABOUT AIDS & FAMILY PLANNING

Besides the VCT offered in the 3 Dispensaries, HUYAMU has started to be involved in several community mobilization on “village markets”, aiming to reach many people at one time. Between 300 and 600 people get HIV-tested during ONE day – and often the HIV-tests reach their end while people are still queuing up for testing. Those found positive are referred to the nearest clinic where they can receive ARVs – but they are also invited to come to our Dispensary in Musoma for further counselling and information. And most of those found with HIV are accepting the invitation and come to our clinic where they have time to ask questions, receive further information and are encouraged to take the next step.

Besides HIV-testing, some health workers walk throughout the markets, talking to people about family planning – the need for it and the different methods which can be used. They answer questions and invite those ready for using one of the possible ways to our Dispensary in Musoma.

IV: CTC (CARE & TREATMENT CLINIC)

Since February 2016, we have offered (in cooperation with the government) CTC in the Dispensary in Bweri.Therefore PLWH/A can get all services at one place: HIV-test, CD4 counts and treatment with ARVs.