Truckers and PLHIV become agents of change
Our partner: Great Lakes Initiative on AIDS
Networks of truckers and People Living with HIV in Burundi, DR-Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya work in teams to stimulate their communities to take action on HIV.
Many communities changed their way of dealing with HIV. During a visit in Burundi a trucker said: “The rooms that are normally for the truckers who wait to load or unload their truck at the Road Station are rented by sex workers. What do you want -You put a lamb in a group of wolfs and you ask them not to eat it?” During a later visit, the truckers proudly announced that they got their rooms back at the Road Station. In Rwanda, the team visited an association of truckers’ spouses. A former truck driver, who is now blind, and who lives with HIV shared his experience. All women then decided to put a box of condom in their husband’s suitcase every time he would travel. |
Six learning events and one Knowledge Fair took place between 2007 and 2009. Each team conducted SALT visits and 4 teams organised a moderators training, to set up knowledge rooms along the main road axes. Facilitators are confident with the AIDS Competence approach. New partners are interested in the approach, for example the NAC and UNAIDS in Tanzania. The approach now comes back in the strategic plan of the Burundi PLHIV network.
For the first time, truck drivers and PLHIV teamed up. This had a positive impact on the inclusion of PLHIV and behaviour change. “With the PLHIV we keep on learning, from their solidarity and their determination to fight HIV and poverty,” said a trucker. During the learning events, facilitators went beyond their differences to support each other -across countries and cultures.
During the last two learning events the network built knowledge assets on several topics.
Common knowledge about AIDS Competence
Inclusion
Linking care and prevention
Learning and transfer
Measuring change and adapting our response
Mainstreaming AIDS Competence in our networks
Networks of People Living with HIV and long distance truck drivers strive to develop their AIDS Competence in Burundi, DR-Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania. More about AIDS Competence in our networks
Spreading AIDS Competence through Wellness Centers
Truckers and communities develop their AIDS Competence at the 18 Wellness Centers along the main road axes in the Great Lakes Region. More about Wellness Centers