Boniface Mwangi And Wilfred Muchire
30 January 2008
Nairobi — Teachers infected with HIV and Aids in Central province have formed a lobby group aimed at educating their colleagues and other Kenyans on the scourge.
At least 400 teachers, mostly in primary schools, have already joined the group. The teachers want to stem the spread of the HIV virus. HIV prevalence rate among teachers stands at 4.5 per cent in the region. The programme, dubbed 'Chill' also aims to educate pupils against the dangers of premarital sex, says Mr Charles Nyaberi of Aids Population and Health Integrated Assistance.
The non-governmental organisation supports Aids-related projects. The programme is implemented by youths aged between 18 and 25 years after training on the scourge and the need for abstinence.
Each school has a pair of youth leaders - male and female - assigned to them. They visit each school once a week on an agreed club day for a "Chill" session. Last year, Mr Nyaberi says, the programme reached about 4,708 pupils in some 46 primary schools adding that logistics were being worked out so that more pupils and schools could benefit. "In Central Province, we have been implementing the Chill programme in 64 schools. There are 20 schools in Thika, 20 in Kiambu, Nyeri (14) and 10 in Nyandarua. We hope to expand the programme this year to 10 schools each in Kirinyaga, Murang'a North and Murang'a South districts," he says.
The APHIA Nairobi-Central project has continued to implement the 'Chill' programme in both Nairobi and Central after permission from the director of quality assurance and standards in the Ministry of Education.
Personal accounts
Central provincial director of education Kenneth Misoi welcomed the move and urged more teachers and school to register with the programme. "This is one way teachers and pupils can try save the country from this dangerous disease that is sweeping away people mercilessly," he says.
One of the beneficiaries of the programme who is pupil at Karatina primary school in Mathira division called on leaders and international community to support the project. "Initiate this programme in all schools so that you can assist in ensuring that in future we have a HIV/Aids free society," said the Standard Eight pupil. Beneficiaries from the project are enlisted as advocates who are employed to reach out to more in schools. The advocates detail personal accounts to give a human face to the fight against the pandemic.
Since they are very healthy looking, the advocates help the parents and teachers assess their own self risk perception as well as encourage them to know their HIV status's.
The advocates are usually allocated time after classes to assist teachers conduct Chill sessions. They also speak to parents during special occasions. Any myths and misconceptions on HIV among teachers and parents are clarified during the sessions. According to Mr Nyaberi the club mostly aims at raising the age at which youngster engage in sex for the first time to 17 and galvanising a youth movement in primary schools to promote discussion on abstinence.
They are also keen on equipping the youth with information on Aids in order transform perceptions on abstinence. Young adults "We also aim at increasing a greater sense of responsibility, greater self-worth and self-esteem, and a reduced tolerance for sexual violence so as to create a generation of youth who are empowered to make informed decisions regarding their lives and sexuality," says Mr Nyaberi.
He says children have an opportunity to learn about necessary life kills and since young adults are key participants in the programme, pupils are free to ask questions.
They often raise queries which they may be shy to ask their teachers or parents. For the shy students, they are allowed to write down their burning questions on a piece of paper then forward them. These questions are answered after the sessions by the youth leaders. Mr Nyaberi notes that the sessions are also participatory with a lot of group work and role play.
This boosts the children's interest and shy students are encouraged to participate. In order to attract more pupils to the clubs, the group organised an essay competition with the theme: The things I'd like to discuss with my parent or guardian but I cannot. The competition gave children an opportunity to freely raise their concerns. Apart from the essay, notes Mr Nyaberi, they also organised for a fun day for schools in Central province. The joint Thika-Kiambu fun day was held at Thika Municipal stadium on October 13, last year attracting 36 out of 40 schools from both districts.
The winners in the sporting activities as well as the essay competition winners were awarded with trophies. The second was held at 91 Municipality Primary school in Nyahururu town on October 20. Ten schools in Nyandarua attended the fun day involving 200 students.
However, poor participation among teachers has derailed the programme and Mr Nyaberi appeals for their support.
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