NURU is a Swahili word which means light. NURU is the abbreviation form of Nenda Ukapime Rudi Ukaishi (Go and test, come and live). The members of the group are people living with HIV/AIDS. The organization is all about living positively with HIV/AIDS. The members believe that healing does not necessarily mean cure of disease, but healing their mind and transforming their body to realize its full potential, joy and purpose.  

 

NURU Club began when people as individuals attended AMREF for pre and post test counseling for HIV/AIDS without other services. At that time AMREF had a program known as ANGAZA (meaning shed light) to date its ANGAZA ZAIDI.

 

In 2005, ANGAZA introduced a Post Test Club which was conducted every Saturday in which different services were offered including psychological support, information on dietary needs, adherence, and correct use of medications. Further more the members had an opportunity for different trainings such as counseling, leadership management, good governance, group dynamics, proposal writing, entrepreneurship, Home based care and other more. ANGAZA AMREF was therefore a meeting center for PLHA.

 

The number of PLHA increased rapidly from 10 members where 7 were women and 3 were men to 300 members, during which they decided to request for registration. However, registration needed a fund which was not affordable. They decided to introduce a member fee of 500/= among themselves per head per month. Their initiative impressed AMREF Country director (at that time) and donated 100,000/= for them. The leaders were selected, and the members suggested and agreed upon their Community based organization name as NURU CLUB. ANGAZA realized a need for psychological support for PLHA and the newly tested HIV/AIDS positive there for a technical assistance was provided from ANGAZA AMREF on the preparation and submission of the CBO proposal and constitution. The registration of NURU organization followed in 2004.

 

NURU club meeting point remained to at ANGAZA-AMREF office, where due to large number of attendants they decided to formulate two groups i.e Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’. Each group initiated a small PTC at their respective areas and ANGAZA kept supporting them by giving them funds to conduct their monthly meetings. The PTCs operated in different areas also supported PLHA who were referred from different VCT centers.

 

ANGAZA project came to an end in 2008. This was when NURU club faced a hard time. The members were psychologically affected; the club began facing challenges such as difficulty in getting funds/organizing donors. Besides, they had difficulties in conducting meetings due to lack of venue as they utilized ANGAZA premises before. This led to failure of monthly meetings to be conducted. In addition to that, the attendance number of PLHA declined due to lack of refreshments which were offered by ANGAZA to motivate them; unfortunately this was not affordable by NURU club. Also the club ran short of trainers/ consultants which contributed much to the reduced number of attendants and the members went scattered. However, despite all these challenges few leaders remained and preceded with their activities conducted under the trees. AMREF submitted different proposals for funds and eventually in 2009; NURU became the sub grantee of Haki Za Wananchi project.

 

In working with Haki za wananchi, they are involved in different capacity building workshops and trainings such as financial management, proposal writing, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy, stigma and discrimination. Due to lack of an office, Haki za wananchi offered a good office, furniture and computers for them. Currently, the members in NURU club are 400 where as 298 are women and 102 are men among them 300 are on ARV treatment.

 

NURU operates in Tandale, Manzese and Kiwalani wards where it conducts different activities including house to house visits (mobilization) to uncover hidden PLHA or those who do not get access for care and treatment, home based care, bonanzas where they have their drama group through which different messages are being conveyed. In bonanzas the emphasis is on people getting to realize their rights and access to different services; demanding an end to stigma and discrimination as far as HIV/AIDS and Haki za wananchi project is concerned as well as voluntary counseling and testing. Through these bonanzas a lot of people come to an agreement of being tested. The club also managed to discover unemployed people in gangs who are unaware with HIV/AIDS positive spreading the disease though drug use by needle sharing. Some from these gangs joined NURU club as members. However, there are 2 groups of the project beneficiaries which are the discordant couple and those who benefited from house to house mobilization. NURU currently has established 12 Community PTCs in Dar es salaam region and its actively involved in ANGAZA ZAIDI project to mobilize community.

 

With Haki za Wananchi, they have learnt much on their rights, the influence their thoughts have on their life and health from breakdown to breakthrough. Through realizing their rights as PLHAs some of the NURU members are engaged as representatives in different AIDS committees. Never the less, there are challenges which NURU face namely: community misconception as far as HIV/AIDS is concerned which leads to stigma and discrimination. Also people fear to disclose themselves that they are infected by HIV/AIDS due to fear of being discriminated; and for those who disclose themselves are not trusted by the community as they are thought of doing that for business purposes.

 

NURU club are living their life today as fully as they can mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Thanks to AMREF, thanks to HAKI ZA WANANCHI!   

A            CONTENTS

1.                 Introduction

2.                 Purpose of the training

3.                 Objectives

4.                 Benefisheries

5.                 Identification

6.                 All about training

7.                 Training topic

8.                 Methodology

9.                 Expectations

10.             Benefits

11.             Changes

12.             Lessons

13.             Planed Strategy

 

 

SEMIANNUAL RIPORT ON HEALTH POLICY INITIATIVE PROJECT CONDUCTED BY DACOPHA TOTs TEAM UNDER SPONSER OF FUTURE GROUP            INTERNATIONAL (FGI)    FROM   12  TO 16 / JUNE / 2010

 

A.        INTRODUCTION

Health policy initiative  is a project sponsered by the people of Amerca through USAID. The project is implimented part at the three municipality of Dar-es-salaam Region. The implimentation of this project involves three District Net works one from each district under DACOPHA umbrella.The Networks are KINDPHA of kinondoni,TEDINAPA of Temeke and IDINEPHA of Ilala district. DACOPHA  is a coalition after three District Networks

 of Dar es salaam Region signing MOU to work together as a team. nzo hayo ambayo yameleta mafanikio kwa watu waishio na V.V.U. na UKIMWI, kwa kuelewa haki za kibinadamu, matumizi sahihi ya dawa za kupunguza makali ya V.V.U. na UKIMWI.

B.        IMPLIMENTATION

Future Group International provide Tshs.1,112,000/= toTOTs team to conduct training in the 14 wards within the three municipality of Dar es salaam city

C.        Activity perfomed:

(i)         Identification of perticipants.

(ii)        Training on treatment literacy and ARV adherence + rights & obligation of PLHIV.

.

(a)Activity nomber one perfomed on 12 &13 june /2010 in all districts where by it included    perticipants from seven wards.

This activity was provided with Tshs 556,000/=           

(b) Activity nomber two perfomed on 15 – 16 June, 2010  in all districts, it included    perticipants from seven wards. Also this activity was provided with Tshs 556,000/=

 

D. Project goal:-

To improve access to prevention,treatment and care services for PLHIV and people affected by HIV & AIDS.

 

F.OBJECTIVES

1.To contribute in stigma & discrimination reduction and increase access to rights for PLHIVs in Tanania.

2.To make followup to those stoped using ARVs due to the different problems trying to cousel them,teaching them the importance of ARVs for their life and convising them to continue with the dose.

3.At the end of the training participants were expected to enhance their conceptual clarity and knowledge on the a ARVs adherence, rights of PLHIV and be ready to disseminate the same to fellow PLHIVs in their communities,in this we managed to train 420 people on ARV adherence, rights of PLHIV where by 153 among them were female and 57 males

 

 

 

G.        TARGET PEOPLE

People living  with HIV &AIDS with special instruction that must be on ARV therapy.

Selection of participants

 Selection of participants was invested on the district networks with instructions to nominate people who are knowledgeable and capable of imparting the knowledge they get to others

 

 

The main topics of the training were: -

1)      What are human rights?

2)      Rights of people Living with HIV and AIDS

       3)   ARVs adherence 

 

A. Human rights:

In this topic they learned about basic right of the people living with HIV & AIDS, that to be positive doesn’t isolate to perticipate in any community activities.We talked about the right to access care & treatment, right to give birth, aright to mary & maried, aright to own goods,a right to get education.

 

B.ARVs ADHERENCE

We discussed about the availability of health cervices available in our centres and how to benefit this services.We discussed about the importance of good ARV adherence,the risk of poor adherence of the medicines.Also we talked about good nutrition for people already in ARVs that the drugs function well when taken with enough meal.We tried to tell the perticipant that the balance dient doesn’t mean the expencive foods from supermackets but  is a normal foods available in sorroundings like vegetables,fruits,fish,bananas,ugali,rice e.t.c. na Ukimwi tuliwaelimisha kuhusu umuhimu wa kuwa mfuasi mzuri wa dawa za kupunguza makali ya V.V.U. na ukimwi na magonjwa nyemelezi na vile vile tulifundishwa LISHE na dawa za kupnguza makali na magonjwa nyemelezi na  kutibiwa mapema.

 

D.        STIGMA & DISCRIMINATION

In this topic we discussed a lot about S&D sourses and causes,through this discution we found some key factors that  causes this situation, some of the factors are :- inadequet knowledge about HIV/ AIDS among the community, povety,

(i)         Kutofahamu ukweli

(ii)        Mfumo unaolenga na kuendeleza ukandamizaji kwa kuangalia.

(iii)       tribalism

(iv)       Ujinsia

(v)        Umasikini

(vi)       Dini

(vii)      Woga wa kuambukizwa V.V.U.

(viii)      Woga wa kuishi na V.V.U. na ukimwi kwa kudhani kuwa

F.         METHODOLOGY

Participatory methodologies that enabled interactive learning and sharing by all were employed throughout the training. The methods used included short presentations and group discussions, group work and group work presentation. Participants were given space to share information and experiences. In addition, the participants were told to use their spare time to learn more through reading materials which was provided in the training package (Handouts). In order to avoid boredom and to make participants active, energizers from the participants and the facilitators were featured in between sessions. All classes conducted during the entire project, were active with meaningful contribution motivated by the relevant topics presented and the approach that was used by the Trainers.

 

 

1          MAFANIKIO

Idadi ya washiriki tulivyotarajiwa watu wapatao 420 wanaume 132 na wanawake 285.  Jumla wanaume waliofikiwa 132 na wanawake 285 waliofikiwa.

Ø      Muda wa mafunzo uliendana na ratiba.

Ø      Washiriki walikuwa hai kikamilifu

Ø      Washiriki walielewa mada zilizofundishwa

Ø      Walitambua haki zao na faida au hasara za UFUASI MBAYA WA DAWA ZA ARVs za kupunguza makali ya ukimwi.

Ø      Washiriki wameelewa jinsi gain ya kujikinga na maambukizi mapya, pia kuepuka usuguwa VIRUSI na dawa zisiwezeze kufanya kazi vizuri.

Ø      Washiriki waliyoyapata mafunzomara ya kwanza na kufuatiliwa na wawezeshaji kutokana na kesi zao wameleta mwamko na kuongezeka kwa uelewa.

Ø      Baadhi ya washiriki wa mafunzo haya wameweza kupata nafasi katika vituo vya kutoa huduma (C.T.C.) mikutano ya kila mwezi ya watu wanaoishi na V.V.U.

Ø      Kila mshiriki wa mafunzo alichangia mada zilizofundishwa kulingana na uelewa wake jinsi alivyoelewa kuhusiana na mada zote zilizotolewa na kuibua changamoto mbali mbali kwa washiriki.

2.         FACILITATORS OF THE TRAINING  FIRST ROUND

VITUKA WARD

(i)                  ELIZABETH VICENT SANGU

(ii)                IDDI OLANG

(iii)               ISABELA JIMMY

MBAGALA WARD

SEVERIN KALAKI

JENNY MNGONG’O

KIJITO NYAMA WARD

(i)         SAIDI KAMBANGWA

(ii)        FELISIANA RUTITA

 KIWALANI WARD

(i)                  ANIFA JABIR

(ii)                 

(ii)        CATHERINE YUSUPH

 

KINONDONI KATA YA

(i)         JOHN SOLANYA

(ii)        MWANAHAMISI MHANDO

KATA YA TANDALE

(i)         AISHA FELIX

(ii)        VICTORIA ODILA

TEMEKE KATA YA MTONI MTAA WA MASHINE YA MAJI

(i)                  AHMED MWIRU

(ii)                SLYVESTA MICHAEL

Awamu ya pili wawezeshaji

KINONDONI MTAA WA ANANASIFU – MTAA WA KISUTU

(i)                  IDDI OLANG

(ii)                ISABELLA JIMMY

(iii)               ELIZABETH VICENT SANGU

KATA YA KIJITONYAMA – MTAA WA KIJITONYAMA

(i)                  FELISIANA LWITA

(ii)                SAIDI KAMBANGWA

KATA YA KIMARA RESORT

(i)                  JENNY MNG’ONG’O

(ii)                SEVERIN LULAKI

ILALA KATA YA ILALA-MTAA WA  BUNGONI

(i)                  M,WDANAHAMISI MHANDO

(ii)                JOHN SOLANYA

KATA YA VINGUNGUTI MTAA WA KIEMBE MBUZI

(i)                  VICTORIA ODILLA

(ii)                AISHA FELIX

KATA YA KIWALANI MTAA WA BOMBOM

(i)                  SLYVESTA MICHAEL

(ii)                AHMED MWILU

TEMEKE KATA YA CHANG’OMBE – MTAA WA BORA

(i)                  CATHERIN YUSUPH

(ii)                ANIFA JABIRI

Wawezeshaji hawa awamepatiwa mafunzo ya T.O.T. na FUTURES kupitia ufadhili wa watu wa Marekani ambao T.O.T.s kwenye  mambo ya HIV/AIDS.

MATARAJIO YETU:  Ni kuwa na mabadiliko baadae hasa kwa watuwanaotumia dawa za ARVs hasa kwa makundi yaliyolengwa kwenye mradi watapata uawezo wa kutambua na kutetea haki zao za msingi jambo ambalo litachangia kupunguza baadhi ya viatendo vya kikatili wanavyotendewa vikiwemo vya unyanyapaa na unyanyaswaji.  Vile vile tunatarajia kwamba watu wanaotumia dawa za ARVs watakuwa wafuasi wazuri wa dawa kulingana na elimu waliyofundishwa na kuwa walimu kwa wenzao huko waliko hasa kwa jamii inayowazunguka pia tunatarajia kwamba elimu tuliyofundishwa hakuna endelevu kwa kuwa waliofundishwa na kuwa wazi kwa jamii.  Pia kwa wale waliofanya dodosomara ya kwanza wameleta mafanikio mazuri kwani wengi afya zao zimeboreka na matunzo yametolewa na kuleta mabadiliko kwa wale waliokuwa wanatumia dawa za asili wameacha kurudia  kutumia ARVs upya.

MATOKEO:  Kwa kupitia mafunzo haya tumeweza kuamsha hisia za wengi ambao walikuwa hawaelewi lolote kuhusu haki na nafasi na wajaibu walionao katika jamii.  Hivyo kuna baadhi ya watu wameweza kujitokeza na kutaka kuombea nafasi nafasi mbali mbali katika uchaguzi mkuu wa mwaka 2010 na kufuatilia nafasi zao katika serikali za mitaa na baadhi wamewekwa katika kamati za mitaa za kudhibiti ukimwi, pia kupitia mafunzo haya washiriki wameweza kuwagundua wenzao ambao wanatumia dawa za ARVs kwa kujificha wakati wanaishi nyumba moja ambao ni mke na mume na kuwezesha wawili hawa kuwa wazi.

MAFANIKIO

Ø      Tumeweza kuwafikia walengwa katika kata saba (7) na kutoa mafunzo kwa washiriki wapatao 210.

Ø      Wanaume ni kundi ambalo ni gumu sana lakini kutokana na mafunzo haya tumeweza kufikia wanaume 57 na wanawake 153 hivyo kufikia jumla ya washiriki 210 kwa awamu ya kwanza tulifikia wanawake 132 na wanaume 78 jumla 210.