Muhyila-Yamba B, Kapwepwe M, Sinyinza M; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. ThOrE697.
B. Muhyila-Yamba, Project Concern International, PO Box 32320, Lusaka, Zambia, Tel.: +260 1 228 118, Fax: +260 1 225 741, E-mail: brenda@zamnet.zm
Issue: Communities have begun to realize the need for a collective responsibility in coping with the increasing number of orphans and have also been able to benefit from district counterpart and external partner technical expertise.Project: Project Concern International Zambia (PCIZ) set up a Program of Support to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in two districts of Zambia. Using participatory methodologies, communities were mobilized to identify and find sustainable community managed solutions to the problem of orphans in their areas. The communities identified problems in areas including education, health, security, economic and food security. OVC. Respective communities also identified key persons to spearhead the process.Results: Within one year (1998), thirteen communities have formed community committees that are forerunners in the implementation of the interventions to assist OVC. The committees are multi-sectoral, comprising people from churches, Community Based Organizations, local businessmen and ordinary community members. Communities have established community schools to cater for out of school children. HIV/AIDS education is conducted through drama, poetry and meetings. Other activities include psychosocial counseling of children affected by HIV/AIDS. Communities are also involved in different skills training and income generating activities. To help them assess the impact of their efforts, the committees have established an information system which is computerized at district level.Lessons learned: Communities can be mobilized, using participatory methodologies, to consider the problem of orphans as a community responsibility and not just a household responsibility. Interventions
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Child
- Demography
- Evaluation Studies
- Family
- Family Characteristics
- Foster Home Care
- HIV
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Services Needs and Demand
- Humans
- Organizations
- Residence Characteristics
- Zambia
- education
- organization & administration
Other ID:
UI: 102242452
From Meeting Abstracts