To create an enabling environment that promotes positive social norms including fidelity, non-nviolence, healthy relationships.

Transcription

1 Quarterly Newsletter TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction CHAMPION in the News Program Achievements this Quarter -Core HIV Prevention -MCC Achievements -GBV Achievements Voices from the Field Quarter Introduction CHAMPION Channeling Men s Positive Involvement in a National HIV/AIDS Response is an innovative five-year initiative funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Tanzania and managed by Engender- Health. CHAMPION seeks to promote a national dialogue about men s roles and to increase gender equity, and in doing so, reduce the vulnerability of men, women, and children to HIV, AIDS, and other adverse reproductive health (RH) outcomes. CHAMPION employs an ecological model which acts at different levels to achieve individual, family, community, and social change. CHAMPION s Ecological Model To mobilize workplace environments to advance gender equity and constructive male engagement in HIV prevention and reproductive health promotion To create an enabling environment that promotes positive social norms including fidelity, non-nviolence, and respect for healthy relationships CHAMPION IN THE NEWS CHAMPION received coverage in over 11 different newspapers, 6 radio stations and 6 TV stations throughout the quarter. Most of the coverage was around the Kuwa Mfano wa Kuigwa launch, MCC activities, community engagement and the visit of EngenderHealth s President. Coverage is due to ongoing relationship building with the press and submitting newsworthy press releases in Swahili and English. Policy Workplaces Health Services Community Individual - To develop strategies for strengthening national, regional, and district laws and policies to engage men in HIV prevention and reduce the risk to both men and women To promote positive health-seeking behavior and men s participation in clinical health services To promote reduction in number of sexual partners, increase fidelity in relationships, and reduce high-risk behavior The CHAMPION project receives PEPFAR funding from three sources, each with specific and complimentary program goals: Core HIV Prevention (AB and OP), Gender Based Violence (GBV), and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

2 Core HIV Achievements HIV-Individual Level CHAMPION continued to build the skills of the CoupleConnect facilitators. CoupleConnect is a curriculum developed by EngenderHealth meant to increase couple connectedness among married or committed couples in Tanzania. This quarter 14 (7 men and 7 women) CoupleConnect facilitators were taken through a five-day Training on Gender Transformation. Post-test scores from the training showed increases in participants knowledge related to HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Participants reported high support for gender-equitable norms on the GEM scale. These facilitators will begin implementing the CoupleConnect curriculum in project districts in Q2. Throughout the quarter, a total of 75 participants (39 men and 36 women) in Morogoro and Shinyanga completed the fourth round of group education workshops using the Men As Partners (MAP) Group Education Manual. The project s LNGOs coordinated the recruitment of participants in collaboration with MAP field facilitators and community leaders. The curriculum is designed to promote critical reflection on commonly held gender and social norms that increase HIV risk. The series of workshops over a three month period help participants to identify negative outcomes from engaging in risky behaviors and the benefits of adopting genderequitable behaviors. Young men learn the importance of gender equity in a Men As Partners workshop in Lindi. CHAMPION staff were oriented on the SASA! approach during the annual staff retreat in Arusha. The SASA! approach defines gender concepts and concepts of power in relation to the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV). Staff identified avenues where SASA! could be incorporated into project activities in the communities. HIV-Community Level Community Change Clubs will play a central role in conducting community engagement activities at the ward level. Club members, under the coordination of LNGOs, were selected in six districts Mbeya, Iringa Urban, Lindi, Shinyanga, Morogoro and Tabora using pre-determined criteria. Two clubs were created in each district this quarter. 8 members were selected for each club. The selected club members will be introduced to the ward leadership during Ward Development Council meetings to orient the Council on the clubs and request close collaboration between the two groups. Community Action Teams (CATs), under the coordination of the project s LNGOs, conducted outreach events throughout the quarter, including health fairs, community dialogues, small group sessions, and one-onone education sessions. Activities were conducted during national and international events including 16 Days of Activism against GBV, World AIDS Day, and 50 Years of Tanzanian Independence. Activities addressed harmful gender norms related to HIV/ AIDS, GBV, and other SRH issues. During these events 2,486 individuals (1,367 men and 1,119 women) across 7 districts were reached in individual or small group interventions on HIV prevention and gender transformation. Furthermore, over 4,753 people attended the public events. In collaboration with health service partners in the districts, health information and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services were provided. A total of 1,083 people (529 men and 554 women) and 54 couples utilized VCT services. CATs from Mufindi take time to pose for a picture with CHAMPION. A CHAMPION trained CAT member facilitates a community dialogue with local leaders in Urban Iringa. HIV-Health Services Level This quarter, CHAMPION provided support to the Marie Stopes Facility in Kinondoni to develop an action plan for improving male-friendly health services. The plan focuses on activities the facility can implement within its existing capacity and identifies areas for support from Marie Stopes Tanzania and CHAM- PION. Planned activities include: 1. Providing IEC materials on male-centered SRH issues to clients; 2. Creating a welcoming environment within the facility; 3. Designing posters and/or brochures on how to use a male condom; and 4. Conducting facility health talks and outreach to increase male utilization of services. Health care providers at the facility agreed to meet every three months to evaluate their action plan with project support. I am now seeing that men are attending ANC services with their partner and some men even bring in the child themselves. This was would have been unusual before we started this male friendly program.-cecilia Mapunda, Nurse in Likombe Health Centre, Mtwara During this quarter, CHAMPION provided support to 16 health facilities to continue to provide male-friendly health services. The provision of male-friendly services at these facilities is the result of CHAMPION s collaboration with CHMTs and MST in Mtwara, Dar es Salaam, Ilemela/ Nyamagana, and Iringa districts. This quarter, the numbers of clients who accessed services at these facilities was: 708 men accompanied their partners for ANC/PMTCT services; Pg. 2

3 463 male partners of women coming for ANC services were counseled, tested, and received their HIV test results; 1,914 men were counseled, tested, and received their HIV test results at VCT units; 442 couples were counseled, tested, and received their HIV test results together at VCT units; 201 men were enrolled in care and treatment (CTC) services; and 1,096 men received FP services, including condoms, no-scalpel vasectomies, or collected oral contraceptive pills on behalf of their partners (All of them were condom users). A health worker, at one of the CHAMPION supported health facilities, uses skills she learned to provide male-friendly services. In addition, CHAMPION continued to support partners to provide health services during community events commemorating international and national events across 3 districts. Individuals who accessed information and/or services during these events were as follows: 1,083 clients (529 men and 554 women) were counseled, tested, and received results for HIV; 156 clients (0 men and 156 women) requested and received FP information and; 63 clients (all women) requested and received FP services; 179 clients (102 men and 77 women) received PMTCT information; 74 clients (27 men and 47 women) were referred for CTC and additional services; and 384 clients were provided with condoms. Community based health care providers (CBHCPs) are community volunteers trained to provide health information and services, and linked to health facilities in the surrounding community. To incorporate a gender perspective into their work, CHAMPION trained CBHCPs on male-friendly health services in four districts (Kinondoni, Mtwara Urban, Iringa Urban, and Mwanza City). The goal of this training was to build providers capacity to stimulate demand among men and couples for SRH and HIV/AIDS services and foster a supportive environment for positive health-seeking behaviors. A total of 101 CBHCPs (32 men and 69 women) completed the threeday training. Post-test scores from the trainings showed increases (up to 11.7 percentage points) in participants knowledge related to HIV/ AIDS and SRH. In addition, participants developed action plans for increasing men s utilization of health services in their areas, including conducting health talks, educating men and couples during home visits, and collaborating with Ward Executive Officers (WEOs) and other district officials to promote male utilization health services. The CBHCPs agreed to have meetings with health care providers quarterly to identify and plan for activities to promote male involvement and utilization of services. CHAMPION developed referral cards by region for the CBHCP and facility providers to use when referring men to other services. HIV-Workplace Level In December, CHAMPION in collaboration with the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE), provided technical and financial support for CEO Testing Day in Dar es Salaam during World AIDS Day. The event was aimed at increasing awareness on the importance of HIV counseling and testing and how the business community and its leadership can serve as models for VCT. CHAMPION continued to support three CHAMPION@Work sites to implement workplace HIV programs: Mkwawa University (Iringa Urban), Tabora Municipal Council- Primary Education Department (Tabora Municipal), and Olam International- Cashew processing factory (Mtwara Urban). An additional 157 (46 men and 111 women) PHEs completed a six-day pre-service training on gender, RH and HIV/AIDS in the workplace across the three work sites. Post-test training scores showed increases (up to 10 percentage points) in participants knowledge related to HIV/AIDS and RH. PHEs will begin to use the knowledge gained from the training to educate their workplace peers and communities. Workplace Action Teams (WATs) from three CHAMPION@Work sites Olam, Nile Perch Fisheries, and Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) conducted outreach events this quarter under the coordination of the project s LNGOs including the commemoration of World AIDS Day. Outreach activities included health talks and one-onone education sessions. Activities addressed harmful gender norms related to HIV/AIDS, stigma, and family planning. During these events, 1,064 individuals (741 men and 323 women) across 3 districts were reached in individual or small group interventions on HIV prevention and gender transformation and over 272 male condoms were distributed. During World AIDS Day 253 individuals (187 men and 66 women) were tested for HIV at TAZARA and Nile Perch. Couple receives a t-shirt after receiving couples counseling for HIV at TAZARA Mbeya, one of CHAMPION work sites. Between October and December, CHAMPION conducted the endline evaluation of the Public-Private Partnership for Prevention of HIV/ AIDS in the Workplace (P3P Phase II), which ended (after a three-month extension for some work sites) in September focus group Pg. 3

4 discussions were conducted among workers, peer health educators, coordinators, and management across the five P3P companies. Success stories were also collected from all work sites. In addition, 178 questionnaires were collected from workers to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices/behaviors (KAPB); and a structural assessment tool was administered to assess the organizational structures and policies with regard to the work site HIV program. Endline findings will be compared to the baseline to assess changes before and after the P3P interventions began. The report is expected to be finished in Q2. HIV-Policy Level The Steering Committee for the MenEngage Network met in October to agree on an annual action plan based on policy priorities identified by MenEngage Tanzania members, review the regional framework on working with men and boys for promotion of RH and gender equity, and discuss resources that can contribute to the Network s work. The 2012 annual work plan was developed around six main objectives: Strengthening national organizations and networks; Strengthening partnerships/strategic alliances, particularly with other civil society organizations; Working with men and boys on HIV, SRH and GBV issues; Policy advocacy and campaigns Linking MenEngage Tanzania to MenEngage Africa Training Initiative (MATI); and Strengthening M&E and research systems. The general members met in November to present, review, and agree upon the annual work plan developed by the Steering Committee. Recommended activities for 2012 include: identifying and inviting new partners to the Network (e.g. faith based organizations and members from other strategic alliances), meeting with the MOHSW to discuss priority documents and tools, conducting capacity building with the Ministry of Community Development Gender and Children (MCDGC), media training for partners, and implementing joint advocacy campaigns. Members propose activities for 2012 at the MenEngage General Meeting. In October, CHAMPION staff, the Iringa LNGO - Iringa Development of Youth, Disabled, and Children Care (IDYDC) and the Iringa CAT participated in the Iringa Municipal District Council meeting to discuss CHAMPION and the project s work. During the meeting, CHAMPION advocated for the Council s political and financial support for male involvement in SRH services. CHAM- PION will provide technical support to develop a budget for male-friendly health services during the Council s next meeting in February. In November, media personnel were oriented by CHAMPION on the importance of male involvement in GBV prevention during a session organized by the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on the 16 Days of Activism campaign. Journalists from different media houses attended the session and exchanged their views on the active role media can take to speak out against GBV. MenEngage advocated for journalist to write about male involvement as one strategy to address GBV. As gender experts, CHAMPION was invited by the NACP to join the technical working group finalizing the development of a training package for home based care (HBC) services. CHAMPION will incorporate appropriate strategies to enhance male involvement and community engagement in HBC services. The curriculum is anticipated to be finalized in February In December, the MenEngage Network-Tanzania published a letter to the editor titled, Men should be seen as part of the solution, not just the problem. The letter highlighted the socio-cultural causes of GBV in Tanzania and emphasized strategies to end GBV require the transformation of gender norms and attitudes. The letter also encouraged men to speak out against GBV and honor those that do as ambassadors for change in their communities. MenEngage letter to the editor Men should be seen as part of the solution, not just the problem published in Tanzania Daima on 27 December Monitoring, Evaluation & Research Data from the training of CoupleConnect facilitators were entered and analyzed. Findings from the analysis indicate a slight increase in participants post-test scores with regards to knowledge and supportive beliefs regarding couple connectedness. Additional analyses are being conducted to determine the factors that may have prohibited higher post-test scoring. The trained CoupleConnect facilitators will use the pre-post test tool to assess participants knowledge and beliefs related to couple connectedness and its importance before and after completing the training. Prepost test tools for piloting the CoupleConnect curriculum were developed this quarter and will be piloted with the curriculum next quarter. CHAMPION conducted two-day district level trainings for community volunteers on M&E basics; PEP- FAR indicators; and data collection, management and quality. A total of 56 (34 men and 22 women) community volunteers were trained across 4 districts: Mufindi, Ilala, Temeke and Lindi districts. Learning objectives included describing ways to avoid double counting, describing roles and responsibilities in collecting and transmitting data, and describing the process of reviewing forms for ensuring quality of data. The average score between pre- and post-tests increased 26% percentage points (from 57% to 83%). Questions commonly missed on the post-test were discussed at the end of the session. Pg. 4

5 MCC Achievements CHAMPION, in collaboration with MCA-T, is implementing a three-year workplace HIV and AIDS program in select MCC-supported construction projects in Tanzania until February Among those reached a total of 1942 people (1056 men and 886 women) were referred for VCT. In October, the workplace HIV program for the MCC/MCA-T energy project in Tanga region was launched. A stakeholders kick off meeting was used as an opportunity to introduce CHAMPION to representatives from energy contractor companies and orient the representatives on project objectives, strategy, and approaches for addressing gender and HIV/AIDS issues in the project sites. The meetings engaged key district and regional HIV stakeholders in an effort to develop collaborative plans on program implementation, monitoring, and supervision. Representatives from CHAMPION, the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), FHI 360 Regional Outreach Addressing AIDS through Development Strategies (ROADS), Tanga AIDS Working Group (TAWG), Council HIV and AIDS Coordinators (CHACs), and District HIV/AIDS Coordinators (DCACs) attended. The meeting was followed by the official launching of the program by the Regional Administrative Secretaries who acknowledged CHAMPION s efforts to mitigate potential health impacts created by construction projects and pledged their support to the program. Work site and community outreach events were conducted by PHEs in Morogoro, Mwanza, Dodoma and Iringa under the coordination of the project s LNGOs and CHAMPION staff. Outreach activities included health fairs, small group and oneon-one education sessions. Activities addressed HIV/AIDS prevention, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), family planning, other SRH issues, and protective behaviors. During these events 2148 individuals (1,228 men and 920 women) in work sites and surrounding communities across 7 districts were reached in individual or small group interventions on HIV prevention and gender transformation. Additionally, over 1096 people attended public events. Symbion workers in Iringa at Ruaha Mbuyuni area line up for VCT testing during a community outreach event. An HIV and AIDS coordinator from Kilolo district, Iringa talks to a crowd during a community outreach event. CHAMPION conducted six-day trainings on gender, RH and HIV/AIDS prevention in the workplace for peer health educators (PHEs) in Dodoma and Iringa regions in October. A total of 43 (17 men and 26 women) PHEs, CBHCPs, and community development officers from communities surrounding energy work sites in Dodoma and Iringa were trained. Post-test scores from the trainings showed increases (up to 9 percentage points) in participants knowledge related to HIV/AIDS, RH and workplace policies. The training also oriented participants on community engagement/mobilization strategies for HIV prevention and RH promotion CHAMPION continued to facilitate two- and eight-hour HIV awareness seminars for laborers from Symbion Power LLC, Pike Electric, Zhonghao Company Ltd. and Degremonte Spencon Consortium contractors. The seminars provide laborers with HIV knowledge and protective skills to prevent themselves from getting infected with HIV. A total of 444 workers (423 men and 21 women) were oriented on issues of gender, HIV prevention, and RH promotion with a focus on the key drivers of the HIV epidemic. A group work session during an HIV Awareness seminar at Zhonghao Company Ltd. We are benefitting from the 2 hour HIV sessions conducted by CHAMPION. I have noted the difference in protective behaviors among workers as they take more precautions by using condoms. As the custodian of condoms at the site, workers constantly ask for condoms. Thank you for supplying condoms, we hope that you will continue stressing behavior change skills. Marco Mlacha; Site supervisor Symbion; Morogoro Managers from Pike Company go through an HIV Awareness session. This quarter, CHAMPION continued the community mapping and assessment for transport sites and surrounding communities in Pemba Transport and Unguja Energy sites. The purpose of the exercise was to: Explore HIV/AIDS risk factors, dynamics, and vulnerable groups at MCC/MCA-T work sites and surrounding communities; and Identify HIV/AIDS and RH services offered by health facilities and HIV interventions conducted by local organizations in and around the project sites. As part of the exercise interviews were conducted with Shehas (the equivalent of WEOs), meetings were held with community members, and Pemba transport sites and surrounding communities were visited. Factors affecting HIV exposure for Pemba workers identified by the assessment include religious beliefs, engagement in multiple partnerships, injection drug use, low economic status, and migration. The Mafia Island transport sites will be assessed next quarter. Pg. 5

6 GBV Achievements LEARNING & EXCHANGE WORKSHOP In October, CHAMPION held a five-day learning and exchange workshop for PEPFAR prevention partners working on the GBV Initiative. The workshop was highlighted evidence-based GBV prevention activities which could be linked to various HIV interventions already being implemented by partners. Representatives from 29 partners including FHI 360, WiLDAF, Pathfinder, T-MARC, Tanzania Youth Alliance (TAYOA), Pact Tanzania, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Deloitte, the MCDGC, Futures Group, MST, and Africare received an overview of the SASA! and Men As Partners (MAP) approach/curriculum. As part of the workshop, partners developed action plans for integrating GBV prevention strategies into their HIV prevention work. Feedback from participants underscored the need to focus on monitoring and evaluating GBV programs and initiatives in future USAID workshops. [CHAMPION,] you ve done an excellent work on not only organizing the training but also the packages. They are very useful in our work and increased our experience in the area of GBV. - PEPFAR partner participant The national slogan chosen was, Miaka 50 ya Uhuru: Pinga Ukatili wa Kijinsia Kuimarisha Tanzania Huru ( 50 years of independence: Oppose GBV for a more free Tanzania ) to parallel to the country s celebration on 50 years of independence on 9 December. CHAMPION participated in the launch of the campaign at the Don Bosco grounds in Dar-es-Salaam where CHAMPION staff and volunteers marched against GBV and engaged participants in dialogue about GBV at the project s booth. During 16 Days of Activism, CHAMPION staff and volunteers marched against GBV on Bosco grounds in Dar-es-Salaam. On 10 December, CATs in Dar and Iringa staged dramas on GBV facilitating dialogues with 177 people (104 men and 73 women). These dialogues aim was to increase awareness of the negative consequences of the patriarchal system and men s role in the fight against GBV. Myth: Domestic violence is usually a one time, isolated occurrence. Fact: Battering is a pattern of coercion and control one person exerts over another. Be part of the solution! Earn respect without using violence.- SMS campaign message GBV MASS MEDIA CAMPAIGN CHAMPION launched the Kuwa Mfano wa Kuigwa ( Be a role model ) campaign at Dar es Salaam s Serena Hotel in December More than 100 different stakeholders attended the event. This included people from the media, government, USAID, and other partners. The main objective of the launch was to unveil the campaign materials, inform the media of the key issues surrounding GBV in Tanzania, and provide guidance and tools for reporting on GBV. The campaign received endorsement from high ranking officials including Tanzania s First Lady, United States Ambassador to Tanzania and the Deputy Minister for CDGC. The launch event was covered by a wide variety of newspapers (12 clips), radio (6 stations) and TV stations (6 stations) including top English and Swahili newspapers. The campaign will run between December 2011 and May 2012, and will use national TV and national and regional radio to cost effectively balance impact, reach and frequency. Participants have a good time learning at the five-day learning and exchange workshop for PEPFAR prevention partners working on the GBV Initiative. 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign held between November 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and December 10th, International Human Rights Day. CHAMPION participated in National Task force meetings to plan for the campaign. CHAMPION supported CATs stage a drama in Iringa about GBV and follow it up with a small group community dialogue. CHAMPION developed eleven short messages (SMS) in line with the project s GBV campaign to be sent out as mobile texts during the 16 Days campaign. Messages were to be disseminated by CATs as well as to subscribers of an SMS program run by TAYOA. Due to logistical issues, only one CHAMPION district (Kinondoni) was able to disseminate the messages. CHAMPION plans to mobilize CATs from other districts implement the SMS campaign in the coming quarters. Brian Grant, CHAMPION COP; Celina Kombani, Minister of Social Justice; Alfonso Lenhardt, US Ambassador; and Umi Alli Mwalimu, Deputy Minister of Community Development, Gender & Children take part in an interactive campaign puzzle at the Kuwa Mfano wa Kuigwa launch. In addition to mass media, the Kuwa Mfano wa Kuigwa campaign has a community-based component focusing on two districts in Iringa. Three posters, a booklet and t-shirts have been developed for use in community activities. The print materials carry the key three messages that run throughout the campaign: beating your wife is never justified; forced sex, even with your partner, is violence; and violence is everybody s Pg. 6

7 problem. The first print run printed 6,000 posters, 10,000 booklets and 400 t-shirts. The CATs and LNGOs will be oriented on the materials in Q2. Print materials that were developed for CATs and LNGOs to use in the social norm change campaign Kuwa Mfano wa Kuigwa. This quarter, Synovate was contracted to pre-test and administer the GBV mass media campaign baseline questionnaire as part of the national omnibus survey. The questionnaire includes five questions based on knowledge, attitude and behaviors related to the key communication objectives of the campaign. The same questions will be included in the campaign s endline survey to determine changes in target audiences knowledge, attitudes and behaviors associated with exposure to the campaign. Voices from the Field Fanueli Samweli Owenya, PLWHA Learning is a life time activity. At the age of 50, Fanueli Samweli Owenya lives with HIV in Soweto Mbeya City. One day Mr. Owenya attended a CHAMPION project seminar at OTTU hall and he was inspired to testify about his life and the way that the CHAMPION project transformed him. He said he used to believe in the patriarchy system and felt that men were better than women. He was not willing to wash clothes, cook or take the children to the clinic. He thought that this was women s work. CHAM- PION has shown that issues of family and family planning are not only the Mr. Owenya sits outside of his home in Soweto Mbeya City. responsibility of women I ve also learned and now understand the difference between the words sex and gender as most of us didn t understand the real meaning of these terms. Mr. Owenya said that most people have a basic knowledge about the topics covered by CHAMPION project but they lack the information and skills to understand how these issues lead to problems for families, communities and Tanzania. For example, poor communication between husband and wife can lead to poor parenting, divorce and unfaithfulness in marriage, which increases the risk of contracting STIs including HIV. This knowledge and belief gap makes it hard to bring gender and health changes to people and their communities. If the CHAMPION project reaches many people I believe that this AIDS pandemic will be reduced if not brought to an end. William Shekilango, Head of Mgeta Center for Farmers Agriculture Mr. William Shekilango at the hostel where he works in Mgeta. William Shekilango is the head of the Mgeta Center for Farmers Agriculture part of Sokoine University for Agriculture (SUA) in Mgeta, Morogoro. Last September he attended a community health fair supported by CHAMPION that included free VCT services, group discussions, drama performances, games and health talks. Nyandira in Mgeta is one of the communities that benefits from CHAMPION s MCC interventions due to construction work on the power system nearby. William is excited about the economic opportunities that will be brought to his village by the MCC electric power but is also aware of the HIV risks that a work site may bring and the positive and negative changes that will come to the community after the arrival of electricity. He says, I will open a shop to sell mobile phones and accessories with guaranteed electricity from a connected national grid. There will be an increase in people and incomes in Nyandira. Since William s center provides hostel services for about 30 guests he is aware of the risks that come along with increased incomes and transient workers. He knows that visitors often have sexual relationships with local women and more visitors means more sexual relationships, which will speed up the transmission of HIV from one individual to another. He says that guests don t listen to him when he tells them to use a condom. Mr. William was amazed with the way the people of Nyandira showed up for VCT services at the community health fair, I was shocked with the big number of people who volunteered to have an HIV test. All the test kits were finished! At the hostel when I talk to them about VCT they always say why would I test, I m not sick. William is impressed by CHAMPION s results and peer educators. CHAMPION activities keep us aware and educate us on the risks and how to protect ourselves from HIV infections. Pg. 7