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FAREWELLING OUR AMAZING CHWS
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Date: 2017-08-10
As the project transitions to a new phase and a number of our community health workers retire, we thank them for their tireless efforts and the changes they’ve made in their villages.
Since 2007 Positive Aid has supported the training and ongoing upkeep of 96 community health workers. These people were selected from local networks of people living with HIV/AIDS – most of them living with the disease themselves. Over time we came to realise just how powerful this was, as not only did the sick clients they cared for feel comfortable and trusting in an otherwise stigmatised environment, they also offered tangible examples of how you can live a normal life if you adhere to HIV treatment.
The community health workers came from various geographic areas as the project grew, covering remote rural villages to give the population close enough access to a health worker if they were in need. Armed with uniforms, medical kit bags, information and bicycles (‘village ambulances’), the community health workers volunteered their time to look after the sick, give them hope, and help them to get tested and treated for HIV. Any one of them will tell you stories of incredible change they witnessed in their clients as they took them step by step from being bed-ridden to regaining their health and confidence to get on with life again.
Over the years the community health workers have been active, there has been a distinct impact. When compared with neighbouring areas the project hasn’t reached, Uranga and Boro Divisions have had a high number of people accessing testing and treatment, joining support groups, and the amount of stigma and discrimination has reduced – people now speak openly about HIV/AIDS and there is more understanding in the community.
The community health workers have made their mark and achieved so much, its now time for our project to move to another phase so that activities stay relevant and we continue to help the neediest people. We will be introducing home-based care into a new area shortly. However, in Uranga and Boro we will be focusing on a reduced amount of clients so will only be continuing with a small number of community health workers. To all of them, we say thank you for your volunteerism and tireless efforts to help your community. A celebration was held recently to appreciate their work and achievements. Feedback from the day: “Indeed it was good moments full of tears and joy as we remembered the lives of people we have touched.”
The community health workers came from various geographic areas as the project grew, covering remote rural villages to give the population close enough access to a health worker if they were in need. Armed with uniforms, medical kit bags, information and bicycles (‘village ambulances’), the community health workers volunteered their time to look after the sick, give them hope, and help them to get tested and treated for HIV. Any one of them will tell you stories of incredible change they witnessed in their clients as they took them step by step from being bed-ridden to regaining their health and confidence to get on with life again.
Over the years the community health workers have been active, there has been a distinct impact. When compared with neighbouring areas the project hasn’t reached, Uranga and Boro Divisions have had a high number of people accessing testing and treatment, joining support groups, and the amount of stigma and discrimination has reduced – people now speak openly about HIV/AIDS and there is more understanding in the community.
The community health workers have made their mark and achieved so much, its now time for our project to move to another phase so that activities stay relevant and we continue to help the neediest people. We will be introducing home-based care into a new area shortly. However, in Uranga and Boro we will be focusing on a reduced amount of clients so will only be continuing with a small number of community health workers. To all of them, we say thank you for your volunteerism and tireless efforts to help your community. A celebration was held recently to appreciate their work and achievements. Feedback from the day: “Indeed it was good moments full of tears and joy as we remembered the lives of people we have touched.”