Villages and health zones in Burundi and DR-Congo address their vulnerabilities

Partner: Health Net TPO (HNTPO)

Constellation coaches, with support of Health Net TPO, introduced the AIDS Competence Process in two health zones in DR-Congo and one health district in Burundi. 

Nzotsi Paluku, HNTPO in DR-Congo, explained: "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 about HIV. The demand comes from them! And this makes a big difference." 

HNTPO, together with associations of People Living with HIV, answers the need for information of the communities. "We see that more people want get tested," explained Nzotsi.

In Burundi and DR-Congo, communities take action to reduce their vulnerabilities. In DR-Congo, a youth group in Vutetshe decided to address the issue of HIV. They requested audio-visual material with information about HIV from CIF/Santé and all contributed to buy gasoline for the power generator to watch the videos. In Burundi, some villagers said they were vulnerable during wedding parties celebrated at night. They now decided to celebrate weddings during the daytime to reduce the risk. Community animators conduct home visits to help the People Living with HIV to break the silence. 

In Murenda (Burundi), 647 people did an HIV test within the last 7 months, proudly announced the members of the health Committee and the community animators! In Buhinda (Burundi) where the Health Committee opened a testing centre last December, 436 people did their HIV test.

In DR-Congo, the SALT approach is now integrated in the activities of the health staff in every area. The community focal persons, the nurses in charge in the health area and the good practice coordinator of the NGO CIF/Santé work together as a team. CIF/Santé supports the implementation of the community action plans like the distribution of videos to the young people in Vutetshe.