HOPE
HOPE Zimbabwe works to reduce the rate of transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases targeting the entire community taking note of the different age groups and their needs. HOPE encourages the community to organize themselves in a manner that makes it possible to discuss and fight HIV and other chronic illnesses that bring unrest to the people. HOPE Zimbabwe encourages people to get tested for HIV, form support groups and TRIOs and fight for survival through engaging in healthy living practices and viable economic practices. HOPE reaches people in the home, at work, at church and other community development gatherings. Currently HOPE Zimbabwe works in Bindura covering 2 urban and 3 rural districts which also include farm communities. HOPE Zimbabwe reached 43 663 people through its various activities that are programmed within three thematic areas which are: (1) Health services, (2) Opinion forming and (3) Outreach activities.
HOPE Zimbabwe has been in existence since 1998 when HOPE Bindura was established in direct response to HIV and AIDS pandemic that was facing the country.HOPE also worked is Harare from 2002-2012 as a workplace program to stop the spread of HIV /AIDS in Msasa Industrial area and Mabvuku/Tafara and it expanded its services to work with commercial sex workers. HOPE has expanded HIV related service provision to include information dissemination on malaria, sexual reproductive health and Tuberculosis.
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Hope Bindura project was established in 1998 as a direct response to the HIV and AIDS pandemic that was facing the country. The establishment of Hope in Bindura, Mashonaland Central Province was deliberate after considering the high HIV prevalence in 1998. The project has established Hope stations in centres in Nyava, Manhenga and Madziva in a bid to ensure that the people increase their access to HIV/AIDS information. Hope Bindura works in 12 wards of Bindura Urban, (10 Farms Pasango ,Darwmill ,Chanaka, KCC, Rapids, Stella ,Radco ,Matson, Avoca and Zvakwana), Ward 9 to 13 Manhenga, Ward 14 to 18 Nyava and Wards 3,5,6,7 and 10 of Shamva.
The project reaches out to the community with
1.Health Services
Hope Bindura mobilises and refers people for HTC services through campaigns organised by the outreach officers and Hope activists. To promote safer sex, the project distributes condoms through established condom outlets
People in positive living groups participate in lessons on nutrition, positive living, positive prevention, STI, ART and adherence.
Youths aree referred for sexual reproductive health services through the youth friendly corners, per educators and the Join in Circuit (JIC) runs.
Outreach
To facilitate the accessibility and the convenience of condoms distribution Hope established and maintains a total of 115 condom outlets for different but targeted groups. Hope works with trained community activists that mobilize people and plan for activities in line with HIV/AIDS, community and home based care, sexual reproductive health, club formation and support groups. Activists include nurses, youth leaders, support group leaders, home based care givers, local leaders, peer educators social welfare and youth officers among others.
Hope activists and outreach officers form Trios to support and strengthen drug adherence among people living with HIV, TB and cancer.
To promote access to and demand for SRH services,youths are trained as JIC facilitators who educate other youth using the JIC set, a behaviour change tool. The JIC process takes participants through 7 stations which covers basic SRH information and encourages youths to seek services.
Opinion forming
The community participates in community dialogue sessions that focus on different topics .Participants are community leaders representing traditional, political, government department, business and non-governmental organisations.