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| PLWHA Summit 2005 |
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Umtata, Eastern Cape, South Africa
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Masihlanganeni: Let Us Come Together
Project Update
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August 2005
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Greetings!
As a way to keep our partners and other interested stakeholders informed, SA Partners circulates quarterly updates on the progress of the Masihlanganeni Project. We hope you enjoy reading our second newsletter. We very much welcome your comments and suggestions.
South Africa Partners initiated the Masihlanganeni Project in cooperation with its partners in Massachusetts and the Province of the
Eastern Cape as a way to support and contribute to the ongoing process of education, mobilization, and integration of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs)
in the Eastern Cape. Masihlanganeni seeks to diminish the spread the HIV and to improve the health and well-being of PLWHAs by assuring their active and effective participation in strategies to end the epidemic. Specifically, the project endeavors to accomplish these goals by improving HIV/AIDS service delivery, care and support, and by promoting PLWHA involvement in mobilization and system development.
In response to priorities mutually generated by Eastern Cape and Massachusetts collaborators, Masihlanganeni provides technical assistance and
training through four major initiatives: (1)Supporting HIV Care and Other Innovation; (2) Improving HIV Care Access and Quality; (3) Influencing Provincial HIV Policy Decision-making; and (4) Increasing Cooperation Among Stakeholders.
Mary Tiseo, Executive Director
Thembi Zungu, Eastern Cape Field Director
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Pilot Wellness and Support Centre, Port Elizabeth
The Pilot Wellness and Support Centre program will serve as a link between ARV treatment sites and the communities in which their clients live. Through peer leadership and support, it will strive to enhance and enrich the lives of the people it serves by providing education, treatment information, and support services with the goal of empowering them to live positively.
SA Partners and CDU provided technical assistance for the facilitators, who conducted the focus groups in May. Generally, group facilitators conducted one
focus group per site. However, a few sites managed to conduct two focus groups. In all, 178 people living with HIV/AIDS (who are currently either on treatment or in the clinic system) participated in 17 focus groups. All twelve NMMM ARV treatment sites were utilized: Chatty Clinic, Dora Nginza Hospital, Masakhane, KwaZakhele, Laetitia Bam, Livingstone Hospital, Walmer Clinic, Motherwell Health Centre, New Brighton Clinic, Zwide Clinic, Rodedale, Uitenhage Provincial.
All of the focus groups reflected a very positive response and overwhelming support for the establishment of the Wellness Centre within the NMMM. The lay counselors expressed their gratitude for being consulted on how to create a Wellness Centre that catered to the needs and concerns of people living with HIV/AIDS.
To receive a copy of the Pilot Wellness and Support Centre Focus Group Report, contact info@sapartners.org .
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South African AIDS Conference Presentation
Thembi Ngubane-Zungu, SA Partners Field Director, Douglas Brooks of the Justice Resource Institute Health Program, and Sophie
Lewis of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) gave a presentation at the South African AIDS Conference held in Durban from 7 to 10 June. The presentation, entitled "The Intentional Integration of People Living with HIV in Policy Development & Service Delivery in the Eastern Cape." Feedback has been positive and there is interest in learning more about the Masihlanganeni Project's approach to increasing PLWHA involvement.
With support from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), SA Partners was able to sponsor seven PLWHAs, one from each of the Eastern Cape's seven health districts, to attend the Conference. These seven district delegates were selected because of their demonstrated leadership ability and their commitment to support the implementation of Masihlanganeni activities within their district. The delegates represented a broad range of backgrounds and organizational affiliations.
To receive a copy of the Masihlanganeni PowerPoint
Presentation contact: info@sapartners.org
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Health Advocates Training, East London
Masihlanganeni Health Advocates serve as core organizers for the implementation of PLWHA Masihlanganeni Project activities. Three Health Advocates are based in each of the Province's seven health districts.
In June a team-building exercise brought all twenty-one Masihlanganeni Health Advocates to the Dolphin Hotel in East London for a training conducted by
Sophie Lewis (MDPH), Douglas Brooks (JRI Health), and Thembi Ngubane-Zungu (SA Partners). The training session served to organize the team, set priorities, and develop a plan for district-based PLWHA sector activities.
Immediately, the Health Advocates began working with Tabisa Bata, SA Partners Project Manager, to organize District PLWHA Summits in cooperation with the local health district office, local AIDS council and AIDS support organizations. The District Summits will elect representatives to this year's 2nd Eastern Cape
PLWHA Provincial Summit.
To learn more about the District PLWHA Summits planned for July and August, contact: sapartners@telkomsa.net
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Administrative Update
Recently Tabisa Bata joined SA Partners as Project Manager for the Masihlanganeni Project. Tabisa previously worked with SA Partners in Boston, while
attending Boston University School of Public Health on a Ford Foundation International Fellowship. She received her Masters in Public Health in 2004 and returned to the Eastern Cape. Tabisa is currently working out of the offices of the Stephen Biko Foundation in King Williams Town.
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