ZDDT and Help Germany assist Zimbabwe HIV / AIDS residents
BULAWAYO – In spite of initial logistical challenges, ZDDT has registered excellent results with the HIV/AIDS affected and infected Work Group Programme. This came to light during interviews held between Field Correspondent, Lewis Jones and participating members of the Community Action Teams (CATs) from two City Wards.
The Programme affords HIV/AIDS affected and infected residents in the Wards, who have been recommended by the responsible Councillor and his CAT, with an opportunity to generate income toward their up-keep.
In this initiative, the Trust lends grass-cutting equipment entailing one lawn-mower and three brush-cutters, to every Work Group that requests these. The Work Group then approaches businesses, institutions or individuals willing to give them grass and brush cutting contracts. The money realised from this work is shared among group members as a means to support themselves and their families.
Help Germany funds the programme and supplies the equipment, while ZDDT administers these.
The following are excerpts taken from the interview with Arvian Mathe, Secretary of the Makokoba, Ward 7 CAT.
Lewis Jones: Your Ward was the very first to embark upon the HIV/AIDS Work Group Programme. In your opinion, would you say it was a success?
Arvian Mathe: The Programme’s success has really surpassed our initial expectations, in spite of the fact that in the beginning there were logistical challenges, which hampered our efforts to secure good contracts. To further compound matters, the targeted benefactors from whom we hoped to get contracts, were then just recovering from the worst economic crisis Zimbabwe had ever known. Very few of these had the resources to assist us.
Lewis Jones: But judging from the records, it would appear that your achievements have been rather impressive, in terms of contracts secured?
Arvian Mathe: Yes. It is apparent that our perseverance has paid off. The group got seven really good contracts and some smaller ones too.
Lewis Jones: What is the size of you Work Group?
Arvian Mathe: There are eight people in the group. Four of these are women. The entire group is HIV positive.
Lewis Jones: In your opinion, how would you say these members have benefited from the Programme?
Arvian Mathe: They have greatly benefited. People, who are infected with HIV or AIDS, require special diets and treatment. Without these they are less likely to survive. I am delighted to inform you that so far, we have not lost a single member of the Makokoba, Ward 7 Work Group. To a large extent, I would attribute this to the benefits they derived from the Programme.
Lewis Jones: The 2010 – 2011 rainy season has arrived. What are the group’s plans?
Arvian Mathe: As far as I know, they are preparing for the new season. We will try to assist them as best we can to secure a good grass and brush cutting contracts. The rest will be up to them. The equipment is still available and after servicing, it will be availed to the group for their use. I am personally aware that they are eager to begin work again.
In Ward 14, New Lobengula, it is a similar story.
According to Mrs. Hingani Mkhandla, Secretary for the respective CAT, the HIV/AIDS affected and infected work group there have experienced an almost identical situation to their counterparts in Makokoba. The New Lobengula group has recorded a 100 per cent survival rate, in similar fashion to the Makokoba team. Mrs.Mkhandla also notes that plans for resuming work on brush and grass cutting contracts this season, are at an advanced stage among her team.
Of particular interest, is the manner in which both CAT Secretaries involved, went out of their way to express gratitude on behalf of their Councillors and communities, to the Programme’s funders and implementers, Help Germany and ZDDT respectively. Both of these people also hoped that the good relationship existing between their Councillors, residents and these humanitarian organisations would grow and prosper.
The HIV/AIDS affected and infected Work Group Programme has during the past year been implemented in several of the City’s Wards. The accounts given in this article however, rank among some of the most successful of these.
In Ward 14, New Lobengula, it is a similar story.
According to Mrs. Hingani Mkhandla, Secretary for the respective CAT, the HIV/AIDS affected and infected work group there have experienced an almost identical situation to their counterparts in Makokoba. The New Lobengula group has recorded a 100 per cent survival rate, in similar fashion to the Makokoba team. Mrs.Mkhandla also notes that plans for resuming work on brush and grass cutting contracts this season, are at an advanced stage among her team.
Of particular interest, is the manner in which both CAT Secretaries involved, went out of their way to express gratitude on behalf of their Councillors and communities, to the Programme’s funders and implementers, Help Germany and ZDDT respectively. Both of these people also hoped that the good relationship existing between their Councillors, residents and these humanitarian organisations would grow and prosper.
The HIV/AIDS affected and infected Work Group Programme has during the past year been implemented in several of the City’s Wards. The accounts given in this article however, rank among some of the most successful of these.