Accurate information reduces HIV incidences

The battle against HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact is an increasing concern to ADRA Malawi. As a social issue HIV/AIDS has in so many ways retarded development at individual, family, community as well as national level. While on the other hand, young people are among the most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. 

Good communication and accurate information on HIV/AIDS can allow young people and the nation as a whole to revise the myths, cultural practices and stigmas and discrimination that accelerate transmission in order to prevent the virus from further spread.

One of the ideal tools that ADRA Malawi has used is the media oriented programs.

These programs, which include radio talk shows, Lets Talk, and drama series, Tikuferanji (radio and television) and community video shows, have enhanced the dissemination of accurate and relevant information on HIV/AIDS. 

The programs promote access to comprehensive and reliable information in quest of behavioral changes with the special emphasis on life changing strategies.

These media program, Lets Talk and Tikuferanji? (which literally means why are we dying?) have offered a way for Malawians to find facts resulting in  eradication the myths and cultural practices that have far been contributing to the spread of the virus and reducing stigma and discrimination at national level.

Since these programs are aired to the whole nation, ADRA has to be sure that the messages are accurate and depict issues related to Malawi so that they change the nation for the better.

Having the programs also means that access to information on issues dwelling on HIV/AIDS, human rights, food security and other relevant issues is possible and easy.

For many years the radio and print media have been to major sources of information. However, since ADRA started the drama series on Television, it has proven that TV is also very powerful because of its visual aspect.

Tikuferanji TV program is one of the most watched programs on Television Malawi, so much that when it is not beamed there is always public outcry for the program.

Without a doubt the media oriented programs have changed the lives of so many people and have delivered accurate and important information to the nation.

Evidence exists that Communities have changed the way they view issues because of the information that they heard from ADRA Malawi media programs.

Authors: Ruth Simika/ Chikondi Madikiza-Madumuse

Food Security series - LICEN

The Local Initiatives for Empowerment in Ntcheu (LICEN), works in the Ntcheu District and is supported by ADRA Australia and the Australian Government.The project addresses household vulnerability in terms of food security and health through capacity building of households and local institutions to improve food security and nutrition. Targeted households are provided with farm inputs and training in improved farming and food utilization. The project also focuses on strengthening local community institutions through formation of village cluster committees that will in long term provide guidance to their subjects in resilience to shocks and coping strategies to sustain food availability. These groups are linked to the Village Development Committees and other institutions in the government decentralization structure. Above all the project ensures that these community structures are empowered to facilitate development processes and support the VDCs in implementation and monitoring of development activities in the area.

Food Security series - WEP

One of the focus intervention for ADRA Malawi is Food Security. The Women Empowerment Project (WEP), works in Mulanje and is supported by ADRA Swedan and the Swedish Government.

The main objective of the project is to assist in removing barriers to the development of communities through focusing on gender issues and promotion of human rights, improvement of health and creation of income generating activities. The project aims at supporting women to become self reliant.

Food security is one of the fundamental elments of the project. Targeted households are provided with improved seed varieties and are trained in improved farming technologies; are equally supported with animal production training and goats. In addition, households ara trained in improved food preparation methods to improve their nutritional status.

Food Security series - LEFAM

One of the focus intervention for ADRA Malawi is Food Security. The Project Let’s Fight AIDS in Malawi (LEFAM), works in Machinga, Lilongwe, Dowa, Mchinji, Mulanje, Phalombe and Chiradzulu Districts, and is supported by ADRA Denmark and DANIDA.

The Food Security primary focus, in this ADRA project, is to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on at indivdual, household and community levels. One way of achieving this is promotion of food security through increased food prodution and improved utilization. Target households are organized into farming clubs which are supplied with supplied with improved seed varieties, particularly drought resistant crops and fertilizer. The clubs are assisted to establish communal gardens and are trained in improved farming methods. The project works in collaboration with government extension workers to provide farmers with ongoing technical support.

LEFAM strategies on IGAs

Let’s Fight AIDS in Malawi (LEFAM) project continues to embark on saving more lives and economically uplifting the lives of many people who are suffering due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
One particular component that LEFAM has earmarked is the Income Generating Activities (IGA). This is one way of making sure that communities have the economic muscle that would result in self- reliant.
In order to achieve this LEFAM conducted a three day workshop on IGA design and Implementation from August 6 to 8, 2008 and was facilitated by two expert consultants in IGA design and implementation. The workshop drew all core project staff, Project Manager, District Coordinators, Field Assistants, Training Officer, Communications Officer, Accounts Personnel, and Procurement and Logistics Officer.
The workshop aimed at bringing out the best design and implementation strategy for IGAs and how LEFAM together with communities would best implement the IGAs to attain the intended objective; economically empowering People Living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and the vulnerable children to improve their living standards in society.
With lessons learnt from previous IGAs, the team came up with different strategies that would be an improvement of the previous IGAs. This would be a sure way to safeguard that the intended IGAs are implemented successfully.

Author: Chikondi Madikiza-Madumuse

TOT HIV/AIDS Project - Local Partner Mobilization in MALAWI

Developing and maintaining good collaboration and relationships with local partners is critical to the program’s success and sustainability. Between July and August 2008, ADRA Malawi ‘s TOT project organized meetings with key collaborators and stakeholders for the TOT project. The key stake holders that were met were: National AIDS Commission (NAC), Ministry of Health (MOH), District Assemblies, community leaders and Health Ministry Directorate for the Malawi Union of the SDA Church.

The main objective of holding these meetings was to brief project stakeholders on the progress the project has registered so far. Other objectives for the meetings were; to brief partners on the role they have played in the project and to encourage them to continue with the support they render to the project.

Dr Nkume, the HMD for SDA Malawi Union, has continuously provided support to the project and pointed out that the Union has plans to empower women groups and other local groups in different areas so that they become self sustained. Another area where the Union is looking forward to benefit in collaboration with this project is the formulation and development of HIV/AIDS policy for SDA institutions. The Union in collaboration with TOT project has already drafted the policy and hopes to work together with TOT project management team to finalise the document.

In another development, TOT project briefing meetings were held at two district assemblies to executive committee meetings for Mulanje and Phalombe districts where some TOTs and 380 counselors have been identified and trained. Their response at these meetings was overwhelming. The District Commissioners for the districts commended ADRA for coming up with this project in their districts which are underserved in the area of HIV/AIDS counseling. They also recommended that the project assist even public institutions to develop HIV/AIDS policy at the work place apart from private institutions. Introduction of these counselors has increased the number of people that go for VCT services in Mulanje and Phalombe districts by 26%.ADRA TOT project has also been commended for promoting voluntary work among the TOTs and counselors. This will enhance sustainability and self reliance amongst community members.

Author: Themba Phiri

Official hand over of Activity Handbook, Mpemba

Let’s Fight HIV/AIDS in Malawi project partnered with three Danish master students to produce an Activity Handbook for Youth Clubs for ADRA Malawi in 2007/2008, using the Youth Club Mpemba as an example for the communication for social change strategy. Friday the 25.th of July 2008 ADRA staff was proud officially to hand over the Handbook to the Mpemba Youth Club.
The Mpemba Youth Club is under Mpemba Chiyambi CBO. The Mpemba Chiyambi CBO was informed of the official hand over of the Activity Handbook and a member of the committee received a copy after the Danish students left. The members of Mpemba Youth Club were very happy to have been taught the strategy as well as receiving the final copy of the Activity Handbook full of pictures and memories.

The Activity Handbook made by Mette Grøndal Hansen, Lise Grauenkær Jensen and Stine Kromann-Larsen can be used in Youth Clubs, communities, groups etc. wanting to use the communication for social change strategy. The Activity Handbook gives a pedagogical step-by-step approach to the strategy, e.g. vision identification, how to take action and how to monitor and evaluate, while giving many examples from the Mpemba Youth club and their specific activities.

If you have further questions or would like to require a copy (free of charge if for teaching purposes), please contact adra@adra.dk.

Author: Sidsel Faurholt