USAID / Malawi - Success Stories

USAID/ Malawi- Success Stories

USAID in Africa: Success Stories: Malawi

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Community Based Condom Distribution

Ntcheu Child Survival Project (NCSP); USAID/ Africare Malawi

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has shocked rural communities. In Ntcheu District's Ganya and Makwangwala Traditional Authorities (TAs) people's traditional beliefs, feelings and behavior have been dramatically altered.

The Ntcheu Child Survival Project's (NCSP) Maternal and Child Health (MCH) department is working with communities to better understand and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

NCSP conducted surveys in 50 villages. Reproductive health and HIV/AIDS issues were discussed. From a sampling of community and religious leaders, a few initial observations emerged: that any individual already infected with HIV/AIDS "deserved" the disease because s/he is promiscuous, condoms are not widely accepted or acknowledged as a method to prevent HIV transmission and Christian community members did not need condoms as they were not promiscuous.

Based on these findings, NCSP and the community developed a number of activities:

Train youth and drama groups to advocate for behavioral change and promote the use of condoms.
Select individuals to be role models and to give "straight talk" on condom use.
Train Village Health Committees (VHCs) and village chiefs through intensive briefing on HIV/AIDS and condom use. These community members were then charged with the responsibility to distribute condoms and educate people on proper condom use.
Conduct an intensive media campaign in 50 villages. The information emphasized behavioral change and the importance and proper use of condoms.
Improve condom availability / accessibility / acceptability through already-formed and operational drug revolving fund volunteers, VHC members and youth-to-youth condom distribution initiative so that the communities can protect themselves against Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV and other infections.

Achievements

The most important achievement, perhaps, is that when communities are actively involved in discussions and distribution, condom use becomes increasingly acceptable to a wide variety of community members. Also, participants were very attentive throughout all training events, eager for information on HIV/AIDS and able to respond correctly on preventative measures, including the proper use of condoms.

Here are some notable quotations on condom acceptance:

Chief Bizaliele, at the launching of HIV/AIDS and condom use discussion in his community said, "I urge all those who cannot abstain or be faithful to their partner to use condoms because it will help you in protecting your lives."
The Chairman of Tcheza Youth Club commented, "You have to supply us with more condoms because the festive time of Christmas is around the corner."

Encouraged by this, five pilot villages were randomly chosen to receive one box of condoms (144 pieces). On average, the condoms were finished in two weeks. Based on this, 50 villages were issued with three condom boxes (432 pieces), to be distributed to VHC and youth club members for further distribution in their respective communities.

NCSP is satisfied that important, potentially life saving behavior changes are taking place. The challenge in the months ahead is to incorporate condom sales at rural health centers through the drug revolving fund mechanism and at youth clubs in an effort to ensure the long-term availability and sustainability of community-based condom distribution.

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Success Stories from:
USAID/ Malawi
1	Community Based Condom Distribution
2	Treatment without Frustration
3	Assistance to small scale farmers
4	Manesi Harison - A Village Savings and Loans (VS&L) Group Participant
5	Dina Moyo, Cash for Work Participant in Khongo
6	Olivetta Mkwenembela, A Business Loan Beneficiary
7	Machinga and Balaka Input for Assets Project
8	Improved survival of pregnant women and newborns
9	Quality education through supporting teaching
10	Community ownership and participation
11	Chishango Condom Social Marketing Anecdotes
12	MACRO: Meeting the growing demand for Voluntary Counseling and Testing
13	COMPASS: Performance and Impact on local communities
14	Growing mushrooms at Chiwembe Dam in Limbe
15	Community-based aquaculture at Kalino Village
16	Improving the quality of education


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Updated: Wednesday, October 2, 2002