People acknowledge the reality of HIV
To acknowledge the reality of HIV is to realize and accept that HIV is our problem (and not someone else's problem).
When facilitation teams stimulate communities to discuss, often, community members start to acknowledge HIV: they go for testing, discuss about HIV with their family, friends, colleagues... Back to results on HIV
"All communities [who have used the AIDS Competence Process] have identified and acknowledged risk behaviors, and taken preventive measures." WHO/UNICEF evaluation (2008)
A few examples:
 Two SALT visits and a small revolution "We had a SALT visit in Kibangwa (Tanzania), a very important truck stop, 300 km from the capital. As we were asking these people if they knew anyone living with HIV, all answered that they did not! But when our facilitators living with HIV gave their testimony, people opened up and started asking many questions. Then, Hadija, a mother of two children, said that she was HIV positive. We came back two months later to facilitate their self-assessment. During this second visit, we found out that these people had created a group of persons living with HIV: 70 people had openly declared their status and had joined this group!" Story told by Clement Chacha, Constellation coach from Tanzania |
At the Yolo Sud Institute — one of the largest high schools in Kinshasa with an enrolment of about 2000 students — RDCCompétence, the National Facilitation Team in DR-Congo, brought new energy to the young members of the anti-AIDS club. Kangunza Ndombe, 19, presently a driving force in the anti-AIDS club of the school explained: "I was chasing girls everywhere, in school and in town. I had unprotected sex with a number of partners. Since the facilitators came and the work we have started, I went for a screening – I was scared. It turned out negative, thanks God. From then on, I have opted for fidelity with only one girl. And I tell all my friends: abstinence – fidelity or else, if one is weak: condom." |
Studiants in Yolo give up chasing girls
Nzotsi Paluku, for Health Net TPO in DR-Congo explains: "Before, every day, we would give people the same information on HIV. They got bored. Now, the communities assess their own AIDS competence, and decide what they want to know. The demand comes from them! And this makes a big difference. We also see that more people want to get tested." More about the partnership with Health Net TPO |
Increased demand for information and testingYoung people can talk about HIV "Since the AIDS Competence Process came in, young people can talk about sexuality and HIV with their parents." |
See a Knowledge Asset about Acknowledgement and Recognition