AEGiS-14IAC: HBC lessons learned in Salima Aids Support Organization (SASO), Malawi.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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HBC lessons learned in Salima Aids Support Organization (SASO), Malawi.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. E11469)

Holiabu G, Phiri C, Timbenao N
SASO, Salima, Malawi

BACKGROUND: Salima Aids Support Organization (SASO) was started by PLHA's in 1994. SASO operates in Salima District with a population of 248,157 and an estimated adult HIV infection rate of 18%. Over the years SASO has developed into a CBO providing HBC, Orphan Care, VCT and peer group support. The HBC component was there from the start - giving SASO 8 years of HBC experiences.

METHODS: HBC at SASO has always been carried out through volunteers in Salima District. The medicine has always been provided from the one District Hospital when stocks are available. SASO started out by providing HBC to the sick clients they heard about in the various parts of the District. Although a number of clients were reached, the impact was small because the HBC volunteers did not necessarily come from the area attended. Therefore SASO decided on a model where HBC concentrates on one area at a time and trains volunteers from the same community. When one area is well established, new community volunteers are trained and an entry point is made to a new area with the assistance of SASO volunteers and staff.

ISSUES: 1) It is more effective and sustainable to concentrate on one area for a period (e.g.12 months) and then hand the responsibility over to the volunteers in the community, 2) That only communities where Group Village Headmen are willing to participate and form an AIDS-Committee, is it possible to make an impact in the community. Hopefully over time all GVH - seeing the example of others- will want to participate. 3) That it is the important to secure funding for basic equipment/medicine from sources other than the District/Government, because supply can be unstable in poor countries like Malawi and it is stressful to be a volunteer if there are no basic supplies to offer the community.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Organizations, HIV Infections, Voluntary Workers, Learning, Counseling, Malawi, Human, Adult, organization & administrationKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,organizations,hivinfections,voluntaryworkers,learning,counseling,malawi,human,adult,organization&administration

020707
E11469

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.