Tanzania: Amazing People

Three short profiles of volunteers and staff working with Kiwakukki – an Oxfam Ireland-supported partner in Moshi, Tanzania.

Hellen

This is Hellen Kiwali, mother, businesswoman, and volunteer at a drop-in centre for people living and affected by HIV and AIDS established by Kiwakukki, an Oxfam Ireland partner in Moshi, Tanzania. A lone parent of two, diagnosed with HIV in 2005, Hellen was given a loan by Kiwakukki to set up a hairdressing and beauty business. In a small, spotlessly clean room she has installed 2 mirrored units for cuts and styling, a wash basin, 2 hood hairdryers and comfy chairs for customers and their pals. On the walls she displays an eye-catching array of lingerie and underwear for sale. Outside on the balcony, her assistant plaits intricate braids into a young woman's hair, watching the people coming and going from the restaurant next door.

This small business, started with just $100, has been Hellen's lifeline. With no possibility of qualifying for a bank loan, Kiwakukki's support has enabled her to provide for her 11- and 7-year-old daughters. It's a soft loan, meaning that the repayment conditions are interest-free and very flexible, but Hellen fully intends to pay it back.

Although the prevalence of HIV is about 6.5% of the adult population in Tanzania (UNAIDS, AIDS Epidemic Update 07), stigma still surrounds those who reveal their positive status publicly. Hellen chooses to be completely open about her status and her work as a volunteer involves helping others to come to terms with their status and to live as healthily and openly as possible.

Hellen is receiving Antiretoviral (ARV) treatment and a large part of her volunteering involves educating others about the importance of adhering to the treatment despite the frequent harsh side effects. Nausea, tiredness and lack of appetite are a regular feature of her daily life but Hellen sticks with the ARVs, knowing that she must try to stay well for her little daughters. Volunteering at the centre gives her a chance to talk about her own fears for the future as well as helping others.

Epimaki

This is Epimaki G. Ndanu, a lab technician for Kiwakukki, an Oxfam Ireland-funded partner in Moshi , Tanzania . He is pictured at his desk at a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre (VCT) that Kiwakukki manages in the midst of a bustling market in Arusha, frequented by men and women buying and selling fruit and vegetables, clothing and any number of household items. The centre provides a place for anyone to call to seek advice and discuss issues pertaining to HIV and AIDS and to take a HIV test if they wish. It's an incongruous setting for a VCT centre and yet this environment helps to lessen the fear and stigma attached to testing. People can literally drop in as they go about their daily shopping.

Epimaki works in the centre with two trained counsellors, who receive people in two separate rooms so as to promote confidentiality. Epimaki's role for the past five years has been to receive blood samples taken by the counsellors and to analyse them for the presence of the HIV virus. The samples are unmarked to ensure anonymity. Results are returned to the counsellors within 20 minutes. The clients, both before and after receiving the result, receive further counselling. If positive, the blood samples are sent for further confirmation analysis. The clients are advised on where to access further medical assessment, information, care and support.

Dr Antipas Mtalo

Dr.Antipas Mtalo is the Head of the VCT department in Kiwakukki. He stresses the importance of receiving counselling before taking a HIV test. In his experience, once people have talked through their fears and doubts, 99.9% make the decision to go ahead and have the test. Knowing one's status allows a person to take better care of themselves, to access information on how to live healthy despite their status, to access care, treatment and support and most importantly to practice safe sex.

Stephanie Casey, Head of Marketing and Communications, visited the Kiwakukki programme in September 2008.

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