Experiences and challenges in provision of CT to young people-Presentation at KAPC conference

EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES FACED IN PROVISION OF COUNSELING AND TESTING TO ADOLESCENTS IN SCHOOLS IN ASEMBO, RURAL WESTERN KENYA:

 Amimo, B;; Ochoro F Nginja, E;; Adipo, D; Odongo, F; Obongo C,

KEMRI/ITM

Introduction:

Despite prevention measures, HIV prevalence still remains high among young people in Kenya. In a cross-sectional survey in Asembo in 2003/04, HIV prevalence among females aged 15-19 years was 9% and <1% among males the same age. Since 2003, KEMRI/ITM has been implementing a comprehensive youth program in Asembo to improve sexual and reproductive health of adolescents aged 10-20 years. We implement two youth HIV prevention curricula, Healthy Choices I and II, which promote learning ones HIV status and provide knowledge and skills to abstain or practice safer sex. We also provide youth friendly health services incorporating VCT, clinical services, recreational facilities, support groups for young people living with HIV/AIDS and vocational skills. We describe the experiences of offering VCT to in-school adolescents in Asembo.

Description:

We sought approval from the District Education Office to initiate VCT service in schools. We then conducted awareness and sensitization workshops for head teachers, teachers and parents. We identified and trained local youth from Asembo to offer VCT services and engaged them as peer counselors. Every week, 3 schools are visited with youth friendly health services including VCT, health education and general clinical services. We provide both one-on-one and group counseling while testing is individual.

Issues:

Working with peer counselors and the integration of clinical services alongside VCT helped promote acceptability and uptake of VCT services among school adolescents. HC helped to inform adolescents of the need to visit a VCT site and know their HIV status. The tight schedule of schools limited the time allocated for health services. Despite formation and decentralization of support groups, only few adolescents who test HIV positive join these groups, and fewer disclose their status. The national VCT guidelines recommend that parental permission be obtained before offering VCT to minors.

Conclusion and Recommendations:

Further discussions should be held on how to involve   adolescents below 15 years, are   thinking of initiating sex or being in relationships without involvement of parents. The school administration and parents need to be consulted and involved in the design and implementation of VCT services in school settings. Use of peer counselors can promote acceptability and uptake of VCT services. More time and innovative strategies are needed to strengthen support groups of adolescents testing HIV positive.

THE FISH GROUP-My days

Fish youth group is a catholic group that is based in Kisumu Town, it was founded by Fr. Antony chantry and Sr. Mary Ellen [you can visit http/www.fygroup.blogspot.com for more info on the group]. I joined this group in 1988. I was still a young girl and i felt enthusiastic joining such a prestigious group of many youths within Kisumu. That was when my life as a youth changed for the better. The group had many challenges as well as enjoyable moments.
I grew up within the group as a member of Nyawita fish group, under the leadership of Magaret or Maggy as we called her and the late Lucas Wanyande. Later i got the chance to be trained as a leader of Nyawita fish group. When my family moved to Migosi, I was proviledged to start migosi fish group which i led till  1995 when i joined the Fish Team. The fish team was the highest leadership structure in the group [ref. fygroup blogspot.com]. The fish team also had its own wonderful experiences since i had always admired those who had had the opportunity to serve in the team. Such included Chris Akun, Alphonce Lumumba, the late Alfred Sigar, late Peter owino, late Vincent Njer [veve], Anne Adhiambo [Mathe as we called her], John Oduor amongst others.
My most memmorable times are during the FLTP trainings [Fish Leadership Training Program], social days where we had cultural days, sports days, christmass outings etc. i was an adent member of fish theatre under the leadership of Argwins Kodhek, where I got various certificates of best actress and our group could get best theatre team, best plays. [Argwins has since continued in Theatre and is now a teacher majoring in teaching theatre in schools in Nairobi]. In sports, i used to enjoy netball and later I used to officiate netball matches during the annual sport days.
Another interesting event was the annual Fish outings, which used to be held during the month of December. For between three to five days, the fish group would visit other towns, groups or even the famous ''Youth Challenge Week'' at Mji wa Furaha in Nairobi. Some of the towns we had priviledge to visit were Nairobi, Mombasa, Homabay, Mbita, Nakuru, Kampala and Jinja in Uganda. The most notable times during these outings were the times of ''Milk and Mala'' during bro. Hans ''go-parish'' structure.
There is so much to be writen about the fish group that cannot be completed by the stroke of a pen. I happened to serve in the fish team with my colleagues Steve owiti, Charles Lwanga, Jerusa Deya and martin Opondo as a co-opted member of the team.
I stand for uplifting the esteem of girls in the group and even organized a series of girls empowerment days during my time in the fish team. We have instilled confidence in many young girls and we are continuing to do so even at present through mentorship and recently we formed the 'Fish allumni'' group to help mentor the current fish group.

LET IT GO......

There are people who can walk away from you.
And hear me when I tell you this! When people do walk away from you: let them walk.
You don't need to sooth people to being with you.
Especially if they walk away from you, leaving you when you most need, desire or love them.
When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny, love and desires are never tied to anybody that left you.
People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay. Let them go. 
And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it, just means that their part in the story in your life is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You’ve got to know when it's dead. You've got to know when it's over.
Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay, to love you, to help you. Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to......LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains......LET IT GO!!!
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth.....LET IT GO!!!
If someone has angered you ........ LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge......LET IT GO!!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction..... LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents ….LET IT GO!!!
If you have a bad attitude.......LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better......LET IT GO!!!
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him......
LET IT GO!!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship, a relationship gone soar.........................LET IT GO!!!
If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves.....LET IT GO!!!
If you're feeling depressed and stressed......... LET IT GO!!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to......LET IT GO!!!
Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for this year!!!
LET IT GO!!!
Get Right or Get Left. Think about
it, and then.
LET IT GO!!!

Mombasa tour-Mombasa raha

 Beautiful scenario of the ocean

                                                                                                  

 

                                                                                                           

Mombasa trip
These are some of the beautiful pictures that i took on my recent tour to mombasa. It was a work retreat as well as relaxation. It was fun. The hotel 'Sai Rock' is a classic three star hotel which hosts a number of tourist. I stayed there for two days and relocated to 'Travellers Hotel' which is a four star hotel. This is also a great place to be, the only issue is its high cost. Some of us would never step into these hotels were it not for our jobs, which of course paid for the expenses. But i do encourage all to at least tour these places even if it is once with your families. The rates for locals do go down when the tourist season is low. Try it.
I got to visit the famous 'Kongowea' market, Shanzu, docks, south coast where i saw the new ferry's amongst others. Some of the nightspots i visited included makuti bar, acapulco pub and the famous casablanca[ here i purposely went to see with my own two eyes the strip dancing and gosh!i saw more...]
One funny thing with mombasa is the number of young girls openly doing prostitution. I was shocked to see them walking half naked, shamelessly and openly flirting. And to make matters worse, very old wazungus are taking advantage of them. You see them walking side-by-side, holding hands and even walking to the hotel rooms. By the beach, what happens is beyond words. Once we even saw a couple making it out in the ocean!! Aii, mombasa is dangerous for moralistic opinionated people. I wouldnt want my beautiful daughter to grow up there, you never know coz these things happen openly wherever you walk. I didnt tour the whole of mombasa to generalise the whole town, but what i saw and heard, is quite representative.
I now realise why they say mombasa is the harbour for tourist. They are very many and i hear in Mtwapa, they practically own the small town and their number almost match half the locals. So for those who want to attract wazungu, mtwapa is the place BUT beware, i also learned that the ladies there are very protective of their 'catches'-they do kill each other. Survival for the fittest. In fact, one of our colleagues was almost knifed when she went touring the town at night, they mistook her for a new kid on the block ready to snatch their catches {she is young and beautiful}.

Social networkings

This here is one social lady. My weekends and sometimes my weekdays are normally very busy. I belong to various social groups where i get to share and meet various people. Some of them are;

• Fish youth group
• Fish allumni
• St. Mathews small christian community
• St. Catherine
• Unique mine
• Smart ladies
• Kalosiki women group

Each has a purpose in my life and again more on the profile of each and what they do, one can contact me personally through my email addresses; brendaamimo@yahoo.com or amimobrenda@gmail.com.

Seeds

I always joke to all who are close to me that when one wants to leave a legacy, better shop around for good seeds. Remember in the bible the parable that Jesus told about the seeds that grew on rocks, some on bad soil and some on good soil.Which ones flourished. Get guessing where i am headed....
I have two very beutifull seeds. One is a girl called Nicole, now in class seven, the other is a handsome prince called Justin, in class two. I think i have stopped there, unless i get a seed i cannot resist.
Please readers, dont do as i do, coz you might be burnt in this life and age. Anyway if anyone is interested in seeing them, please log onto my facebook at 'BAmimo Ann' and you will see their pictures there.
My daughter has a dream of becoming a musician and my son's ambition is to become a successful businessman and buy me all the good cars he can get. Aint i lucky. About their father, thats another story for another day....

About me

I guess by now you know my names. My other name is Anne, which most of my sibblings and close friends know me by. I was born in Kisumu town to Joseph Amimo and Sabina Aketch at victoria hospital. I grew up at Okore estate next to the now defunct kenya breweries factory and i undertook my nursery education at St. Teresa's nursery school. from there, i proceeded to M.M. Shah primary school and later to Kisumu Girls High school for my secondary education. More about my post secondary is another interesting read for another day.
Let me tell you more about my family. i am the fourth born in a family of eight children. Sadly, two of my siblings have passed on, first born Vincent and second born Ida. Those remaining are the third born Imelda, then me, Philister, Mary, Patrick and last born Leonard. My parents gave birth to many girls. It was always joked that after giving birth to the first born son, they started getting girls until after the sixth born. Wow! In this current life, most people would have given up and opted to marry second or even third wives. My grandparents Leonadus and Isabella were humble people though they only had two sons, who are now all dead. This means that we are not a very big family since my uncle also gave birth to six children.
My grandmother used to like the song ''isabella ma nyar atieno, kiti otamo ji ng'eyo, isabella nego to chiero, gino neno tamo ji nge'yo''. I used to think she composed the song for herself only to realise in later years, long after she had died that it was a famous song by the late D.O.Misiani.
As a child, i never used to tolerate nonsense and never liked to play and this made my grandmother isabella nickname me 'polis'. She also could not quite get the pronounciation for the name Brenda and so she used to call me 'baranda'. My sibblings could kid me that am called 'verandah' and so as a child i hated the name Brenda. I only picked it up after my secondary schooling. This explains why most of my earlier schoolmates know me as Anne and not Brenda
......More to come next time.....