by dapp | Jul 14, 2020 | Blog, News
Development Aid from People to People (DAPP Zimbabwe) was the first member of Humana People to People to pioneer HIV/AIDS prevention work using the Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) programme concept in 2000. Since then, TCE has reached nearly 1 million people throughout Zimbabwe, equipping them with the capacity to take control of their lives against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
DAPP Zimbabwe recognises that people are responsible for their own health, but must be empowered to make the right decisions. People’s active participation in protecting their health can be done through community-based public health campaigns that reach out to individuals, groups and target populations.
The TCE Zimbabwe programme assisted nearly 700 000 individuals in developing a personal HIV risk reduction plan from 2000 – 2012. The model has enabled pregnant women to know their HIV status, get tested and receive counseling and undergo treatment. More than 50 000 pregnant women have received HIV support services to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
TCE has, over time, been funded by various partners; however, the first grant in Zimbabwe from USAID made it possible to provide evidence of a successful HIV model, leading to the interest of different national governments, and ultimately, expansion into 12 countries reaching 20 million people in Africa, India and China by 2017.
Today, DAPP Zimbabwe runs an HIV/AIDS programme, HOPE Bindura, reaching vulnerable populations with HIV prevention, treatment, and care services along the continuum of care. HOPE Bindura mobilises young mothers to attend and participate in pre-natal and ante-natal care sessions. Additionally, the project works closely with local clinics and hospitals; it coordinates with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to provide HIV services.
As of 2019, HOPE Bindura has engaged over 42 000 people in its community outreach work, with more than 25 000 referred for HIV treatment at various local health centers. 830 People Living with HIV were organised in community-based support groups to promote treatment adherence, receiving training in Internal Servings and Lending, and small livestock husbandry to improve their nutrition.
by dapp | Jun 15, 2020 | Blog, News
Gutu district, located in Masvingo district is predominantly located in semi-arid region which experiences erratic and uneven rainfall patterns. Coupled with Cylone Idai that destroyed people’s livelihoods, infrastructure, fields, livestock, food reserves many families were left in need of humanitarian assistance.
In an effort to increase resilience among populations affected by macroeconomic difficulties, Cyclone Idai and severe drought DAPP through funding from the Danish Emergency Relief Fund is implementing the Early Action program targeting 500 vulnerable and food-insecure households in wards 8 and 9 of Gutu District, Masvingo .
Project beneficiaries who include female headed households, people living with disability, elderly, pregnant and lactating women and the chronically ill received small livestock (chickens and goats ) as part of assets restoration. This will go a long way in improving food and nutritional security and poverty alleviation. Programs Coodinator Petros Muzuva says “Small livestock play an important role in rebuilding long term sources of incomes for families. The boschveld chickens and goats which are drought-tolerant breeds that are best suited for this region are fast multiplying.” He added that “Farmers will be supported to better look after the animals through provision of diseases prevention drugs, capacity building in improved animal husbandry practices, livestock breeding and management”
The early action approaches are also aiming to improve access to sufficient safe and clean water sources for people and their livestock through borehole rehabilitation and construction of water pens for livestock. This will ensure curbing of the spread of water –borne, bacterial and parasitic infections among people and their animals.
The project will run from March 2020 to August 2020
by dapp | May 21, 2020 | Blog, News
As the world continues the fight against COVID -19, the gains made in fighting HIV/AIDS must be maintained. Following the extension of the nationwide lockdown in Zimbabwe, HOPE Bindura’s voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centre resumed offering HIV counseling and testing to the Bindura community in May 2020.
HOPE Project Leader Rebecca Njopera says providing HIV health services such as HIV prevention, testing and treatment remains a priority during the level 2 lockdown period in order to reach the 95-95-95 targets. “As we resume the services, we continue to adhere to laid down precautionary measures of social distancing, and hand washingt among others. The nurse and staff manning the testing centre worked together to ensure that both clients and the staff are safe.
New measures implemented to protect clients and staff:
- Both clients and staff are screened for COVID-19 symptoms before entering the clinic
- Both clients and staff wear face masks in the centre
- Water and Soap and hand sanitizer are provided for both staff and clients
- Staff advises clients on safe physical distancing.
by dapp | Apr 26, 2020 | Blog, News
World Malaria Day, which takes place on 25 April each year, is an internationally recognized day, highlighting the global efforts to control malaria and celebrating the gains that have been made. The global theme for World Malaria Day, ‘Zero Malaria Starts with Me’, emphasizes everyone’s power and responsibility – no matter where they live – to ensure no one dies from a mosquito bite. DAPP Zimbabwe remains committed to eliminate malaria in Zimbabwe. We reflect on the recently ended Global Funded E8 project on Malaria under the ADPP Mozambique consortium.
The project was aimed to support national cross- border and district community based malaria elimination programs to address the problem of cross-border parasite transportation between the high and low endemic countries through targeting the migrants and mobile populations and the local malaria transmission in underserved hard to reach communities in border districts. The project was premised on four strategic approaches namely
- Community mobilization and empowerment with advocacy, Information Education and Communication (IEC) for demand creation and utilization
- Early diagnosis and testing with Rapid Test Kits and quality control with Microscopy
- Treatment, referral, follow up and radical cure with combination malaria drugs
- Surveillance and tracking of cases with monitoring and evaluation
The project main results were:
- Construction of 5 Border Health Posts to serve the population around border areas and Migrant and Mobile Populations in Beitbridge, Rushinga, Mutasa, Mudzi and Chiredzi.
- Health Posts successfully offered Malaria treatment including some Primary Health Care services as agreed by the District Health Executives (DHEs).
- Enhanced Malaria Participatory approaches with campaigns and cooperation with all locally recognized structures.
- EHTs managed to carry out Case investigations and identification of breeding sites in pursuant to control of malaria.
- Registered General Nurses (RGNs), Environmental Health Technicians (EHTs) and the Project staff combined in advancing Social behaviour change communication within the far to reach communities on Malaria awareness.
- Strengthening communities on local collaboration through Community Advocacy meetings which engaged local leadership and cross border communities.
- Enhanced community testing and treatment of malaria by VHWs.
- Mobilization for Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) Programs at Household level & Feedback meetings with Village Health Workers.
- Each Health Post managed to form a Health Centre Committee to spearhead local development of the health post.
by dapp | Apr 7, 2020 | Blog, News
The Early Actions intervention program is proving to be effective in contributing to increased resilience among 500 households in wards 6 and 9 of Chimanimani, Manicaland province. The early actions funded by the Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF) saw families receiving vegetable seeds such as butternuts, sugar beans, okra, tomatoes, carrots towards rehabilitating their gardens.
Seed handover
Seed planting
DAPP Programs Manager, Petros Muzuva says the actions are addressing food insecurity by providing stable and rapid access to nutritious food through assisting families restore 500 household gardens in Chimanimani district.
“The idea is that farmers should grow vegetables for household consumption and surplus for sale to raise income. He added that the action will ultimately contribute to food and nutrition security through implementing best agronomic practices and techniques which have proven to be effective in building resilience in the face of climatic change effects.
Through training on the best farming practices such as composting, crop diversification and soil protection farmers have enhanced agriculture practices resulting in increased yields. So far households’ have started to see a reduction in in their food expenditure as they are getting food from their own gardens.
DAPP Zimbabwe is implementing this project through the support from UFF HUMAMA
by dapp | Mar 5, 2020 | Blog, News
Ponesai Vanhu Technical College (PVTC) in partnership with Chaminuka Vocational Training Centre (Cham tech ) have introduced the TVET for all through Public -Private partnership in Zimbabwe program. The pilot project is expected to equip benefit 400 youths from disadvantaged backgrounds with market ready skills which are critical for income generating and job security.
In order to meet the ever-changing work environment the privately run PVTC and public run Cham Tech will benefit from the development of a new curriculum that will strengthen skills development systems that improve employability of disadvantaged groups in Zimbabwe. The new curriculum developed with the assistance of Bindura University of Science education, will align with market demands.
The 400 beneficiaries who include 25 youth disabilities and 200 young women will go through the 8 month training course which will be divided into in-class learning and on the job training to allow students to acquire on the job experiences, knowledge, skills and appropriate attitude to work. The pilot program will also assist students in the transition into the formal and informal workforce though linkages with business, government and financial institutions.
The ENABEL funded 2 year project which started in November 2019 will be implemented with DAPP as the lead Partner, and Chaminuka Vocational Training Center and Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe as co-applicants, Bindura University of Science Education and Higher Life Foundation as Associates.
Students start lessons of the 9th of March 2020
