Providing HIV services to 20,000 Cameroonian youth

EVALUATION MISSION REPORT AND LEVEL-UPGRADING OF ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV-AIDS IN MAYO TSANAGA

Introduction

Education Fights AIDS (EFA) Cameroon in the interests of ensuring the well-being of its networks’ members, conducted a field visit to assess the platforms of vulnerable youths in Mokolo.

This was to ensure the continuity of their supervision, their empowerment as well as the development of their community. It proceeded by the creation and development of income generating activities for the functioning of the groups.

 The members of the organization, composed of a strong team of 04 staffs, met the members of AJEPS Mokolo and ASFVUMAT respectively to understand their current situation and find strategies to better strengthen them.

To this effect, after allocating the funds and activities necessary for the two associations a few weeks ago for their self-care, the staff of EFA Cameroon carried out an evaluation visit today 05 October 2018 to evaluate and strengthen the capacity of young people in management of association activities and the management of resources.

These two associations namely; the Association of Young people Engaged in Health Promotion in Mokolo (AJEPS) and the Association of Vulnerable Women of Mayo Tsanaga (ASFVUMAT) were visited. They appreciated and encourage not only material support from GlobalGiving and EFA Cameroon, but also this proximity monitoring and the training they are receiving  from time to time. After several hours of work with the youth of the two associations, several challenges were raised, and members made suggestions to improve their living conditions and their activities in their communities even Better.

ASSOCIATIVE AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

The two associations AJEPS-Mokolo and ASFVUMAT, despite their differences in form, both aim at the same objectives. Among which the empowerment and the supervision of their members Persons Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV) and educate their community in matters of HIV/AIDS and reintegrate society.

To maximize their effort, the two associations intend to face the challenges of pulling their strength and energies together for community struggles including:

• home visits to members and close stigmatized;
• sensitization activities (door to door or mass sensitisation);
• referrals to health units or associations for advice and counselling; and
• advocacy activities with NGOs such as EFA Cameroon, and administrations, just to name a few.

But beyond a common vision, each of the Associations to fight HIV/AIDS in MOKOLO will want to keep its autonomy on everything in all domains:

• from the management of the association (management),
• the income generating activities (AGRs)
• the support of the members;
• the recruitment of the new adherents...

The support of EFA Cameroon at this stage is important for raising awareness for the efficient management of community activities in the fight against HIV/AIDS. To have opened a framework for reflection and sharing between the two executive offices.

 An education and reference project for CD4 testing among PLWHIV is in course of maturation for the World AIDS Day week in Mokolo.

EMPOWERMENT ACTIVITIES FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS

I-                    AJEPS MOKOLO

The AJEPS Association Mokolo has received several support packages from GlobalGiving through EFA Cameroon for its empowerment.

 These are; agriculture (soybean fields, millet and bean fields, and the breeding of small ruminants, poultry...). These activities have not really been able to takeoff according to the members. They have become aware and intend to reorganize their generating activities to begin by instituting a system of “tontine” (contributions) by choice to a draw. This aims to get the maximum participation of all the members at the meetings and at the exit of each meeting a benefactor of the contributions will have enough to start his/her small economic activity for his own management, allowing him to continue to contribute in the association and gain self-support.

II-                  ASFVUMAT

 The Association meets monthly on Sundays at the residence of the President of the association or in the premises of the church; makes visits to members in case of illness and supports them as much as possible.

As for the AGRs, the association had a community farm which it unfortunately abandoned because it did not produce; The sewing machine given by EFA Cameroon to the association is now rented out to a woman from the place who pays them a monthly allowance of three thousand Francs (3.000 fcfa).

In addition, the active members borrow funds according to their ability to return with interest to the association coffers.  This is meant to help them carry out small personal activities such as trade of doughnuts, goat farms etc. The benefits help members if necessary. In general, the morbidity situation of the members, the presence of the several OEVs taken in charge does not really allow the takeoff of income generating activities. The will is great, but the needs continue to be more than income.

To mitigate this, the association wants to expand its human capacity by raising awareness among the members and finding new resources and self-management.

POINT OF VIEW (testimonies)

According to the President of "ASFVUMAT" Association; “the association is for me as a new family, it allows me to talk about my problems without shortcomings and each of us speaks freely we are solidarity and Fulfilled. Our problems are evoked in groups. What encourages me is that we are united and bound by the objectives».

Nguizaye, a member says; "I consider "ASFVUMAT" as a mother and I am very grateful to all members; once I was dying lying down for 6 months, came to the knowledge of the association and was carried to the hospital and thanks to her I am recovered and in health. I owe her life»