“This time, stigma has been reduced and people have stopped laughing at us! They admire our gardens and what we are doing.”
Florence Mulenga is a member of the Kutemwa HIV support group in Chishamwamba, a group set up by the Mporokoso branch of the Zambia Red Cross Society. The group has established a backyard gardening initiative for people who are living with HIV, as part of broader Red Cross efforts to help children orphaned or made vulnerable by the virus, as well as adults.
The gardening initiative was initiated by the clients themselves.
“Each of us contributed the equivalent about US$ 1.40,” said Florence, who is HIV positive. “The money we collected was not enough to have big projects. But we had enough money to establish vegetable gardens that all of us can maintain.
“We are not paying for water as we have a small stream near by. Last year we harvested and shared the vegetables among us and sold the rest earning US$ 43,” she continued. “And with those funds, we bought more seeds and planted a new batch of vegetables which are now growing.”
“Sustainability is a very serious issue for us as external funding support will not last forever, especially on food supplementation,” says James Chaima Phiri, Zambia Red Cross’ home-based care district project officer.
“So local initiatives like this are very much welcomed, appreciated and encouraged.”
The home-based care programme assists people living with HIV in five areas in Mporokoso in the country’s north. Through the programme, Red Cross volunteers promote adherence to anti-retroviral treatment as well as visiting bedridden clients, distributing condoms and providing food support. Efforts also focus on reducing stigma.
“Many people living with HIV who were previously hiding are now living openly so they can also benefit,” explains Florence. “We ask them to go for voluntary counselling and testing and then join our HIV support group.”
Zambia, like most of the other countries in Southern Africa, has been severely affected by the HIV pandemic. The national HIV prevalence rate in Zambia is 15.6 per cent.
In 2006, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched a Global Alliance on HIV. This programme aims, by 2010, to quadruple the size and reach of Red Cross and Red Crescent assistance for people infected and affected by HIV. The Zambia Red Cross Society is one of the 10 Red Cross societies in Southern Africa that are running 9 integrated home based care projects. The programme in Zambia is targeting five million people with HIV prevention interventions and aiming to provide care and support to 22,600 people living with HIV and 71,000 orphans and vulnerable children by 2010 .
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Florence Mulenga is a member of the Kutemwa HIV support group in Chishamwamba, a group set up by the Mporokoso branch of the Zambia Red Cross Society. (p17869)
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The group has established a backyard gardening initiative for people who are living with HIV, as part of broader Red Cross efforts to help children orphaned or made vulnerable by the virus, as well as adults. (p17870)
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The gardening initiative was initiated by the clients themselves. (p17868)
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