MEN JOIN HANDS IN FIGHTING AIDS.

MEN JOIN HANDS IN FIGHTING AIDS.
Every child has the right to live despite being disabled or even HIV
positive, the new constitution has a bill of rights which should be
followed.
Article 53(1) sub-section ‘e’ reads, ‘Every child has the right to
parental care and protection, which includes equal responsibilities of
the mother and father to provide for the child, whether they are
married to each other or not…It is against this vital social
obligation that an organization was found in 2001 to eradicate the
misconceived idea that men have little or no role in bringing up
children.
“We need to sensitize men on the need to be involved in the family,’’
said Mr. John Wesonga a coordinator with Movement of Men against AIDS
In Kenya(MMAAK) in Kerugoya.
MMAK which has several branches in Kenya was started as a rallying
call for men to take their central role in the family especially in
the fight against HIV/AIDS and child education in the context of their
sexuality.
With its headquarters in Nairobi the organization has been able to
spread its tentacles in Mombasa, Karatina, Kericho, Kisumu and
Kirinyaga County.
“We have seen that men can play a big role in the prevention of
HIV/AIDS in the context of their families especially PMTCT (Prevention
of Mother to Child Transmission)’’ added Mr. Wesonga.
Initially the brainchild of HIV positive men, MMAAK currently has 180
fully trained Community Health Workers (CHWs). The CHWs are
currently working with trained health service providers from Ministry
of Public Health and Sanitation in designated locations in the
country.
MMAAK is also providing care and support to the infected and affected
men in Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central, Coast and Nairobi.
This is done through home based care and visits, Voluntary Counseling
and Testing, provision of Anti Retroviral, Nutrition and Referrals.
Through its slogan ‘Man can make a Difference’ the organization has
undertaken three projects in PMTCT, Families Matter! and AB(Abstinence
and Being Faithful).
According to Mr.Wesonga Kirinyaga Central has been earmarked as a
pilot site in Kirinyaga County.
“We need to lay groundwork survey here before rolling our programs in
other areas of the county’’ said Mr. Wesonga.
To achieve their objectives in Kirinyaga Central, MMAK has demarcated
their area of operations into 5 divisions; Kanyekiini Kanyeii, Nduini,
Ngaru, Kimandi and Karia where they have stationed their
Community Health Workers to facilitate their programs.
“The PMTCT program is specially meant to encourage men in the family
be participants and not spectators in family affairs during and after
the pregnancy of their spouses. We also advice the men to undergo
counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS alongside their wives.’’ Added
Wesonga.
Through the various workshops carried in the area, men have slowly but
surely shed the long-held traditional view that the role of bringing
up a child lies solely on the mother.
As a result the men are not only helping in shedding the stigma
attached to HIV/AIDS sufferers but also participating in family
planning, nutrition of mother and child during pre and post-natal
periods.
“Most of these workshops are targeting men in the rural areas where
cultural attachments are deeply rooted. Here men still hold to
retrogressive ideals geared towards isolating them from being part and
parcel of their wives. It’s difficult but it can be done.’’ Says
Wesonga.
The organizers have also received invaluable support from CRS
(Catholic Relief Services) and funding from CDC (Centre for Disease
Control) of US.
According to Mr. Wilson Nzau another facilitator from MMAK the advent
of illicit brews in the country have impacted negatively on the
society leading to rapid spread of HIV/AIDS and the eventual demise of
the family.
“When we came we realized that men were not interested in raising up
of their children but had delegated it to their wives. ‘Said Wesonga.
We have seen that men can play a big role in prevention of HIV/AIDS in
the context of their families especially PMTCT.’’
The PMCT project is a pilot project being carried out in the District
within the next four years.
It is basically designed to stem the rapid spread of the scourge
especially by reduction of infection among the babies born from
infected mothers.
There are 9 VCT centers which have been established in the county
together with 6 CCCs (Comprehensive Care Clinics) and 45 health
facilities offering PMTCT according to Kirinyaga District Development
Plan (2008-2012).
Currently there are 11,900 people living with the virus with only
2,735 receiving ARVs despite the district having a 90% awareness of
the pandemic.
The AB project is aimed at drastically reducing the growing number of
new infections both among married couples and the youth who are hard-
hit by the disease.
“We advocated for AB since it was the only one which is 100%
effective.’ says Nzau.
“We gave advice on how to live positively once one tested positive for HIV’’.
As part of their efforts to reach the wider community the organizers
hold their sessions in the five divisions on a rotational basis.
Each session has a class of 12 to 18 adults and every member must have
a child aged 9 to 12 years old.
Most of their classes have an average of 14 men and 4 women .Here the
participants hold discussions of how couples can be of integral
importance in raising children and inculcating vital truths as far as
sex and sexuality is concerned.
Through these interactive programs men are challenged on their need to
be there for their children and family at large instead of assuming
the presence is not vital.
‘’Men should not only be providers but protectors of their families.’
emphasized Mr.Nzau.
‘’Children who are informed by their parents in sexuality delay sex as
compared to those who have never been sensitized.’’
After 5 weeks of intensive training, the members are ready for their
graduation and equipped with necessary skills to be inculcated to
others in the community.
Basically it is these trained parents together with MMAK staff who
play the bigger role of spreading the message to the uninformed.
MMAK also utilizes the local churches and the Provincial
Administrators in accomplishing their mandate at the grassroots.
Most of the classes are held in Chief’s barazas or in church halls.
Last year alone the association was able to train 360 people most of
who are actively involved in giving handy advice to their peers.
“The program has really helped the men to appreciate their families.
Men must lead from the front and take time for their families.’’added
Nzau.
The Families Matter! Programs have been geared towards wooing the
husbands into taking the lead in the welfare of their children.
The efforts include visiting them in school and being involved in
heart-to-heart talks on issues like sex erstwhile almost deemed a
taboo in family circles.
As a result of these discussions communication between the spouses has
tremendously improved albeit for the better.
The association has also constructed a waiting bay at the Kerugoya
District Hospital where men can relax while waiting for their spouses
during their routine ante and pre-natal clinic.
The facility which is set to be launched in October this year was
built at a cost of sh900, 000.
Once operational it will be installed with a television set fully
connected to Dstv channels where they can watch their favorite soccer
teams and get educated on HIV and AIDS.
“We are looking forward to many men accompanying their wives whilst on
visits to the clinics.’ Said Maddo Onyango a program officer for
MMAAK.
‘’This will encourage others to take a similar step in the long run.’’
Similarly children awareness on emerging social issues has improved to
a great extent.
However according to Mr. Nzau a lot is yet to be realized.
One of the challenges facing the families in the locality is
gender-violence against women.
According to him most women don’t know their rights.
They only come in the open when something horrible like incest has
happened in the family.
This has been a challenge which has often led to suspicion in the family.
Similarly illicit brews have taken a huge toll on men compounded by
abuse of drugs.
This has led men to neglect their duties in the family.
Another problem has been men absconding duties in the homes and
putting up with well-up women where everything is provided.
This has specially been rampant in Mwea and Sagana.
Despite the odds the organization has achieved a lot in the area in
safeguarding a generation’s survival in view of the short duration of
5 months they have been in operation in Kirinyaga Central.
Mr. Nzau’s parting advice to fathers is to have at least 30 minutes
talk to their children once in a while and make that day special to
the kids.
This may be all the child will need in making of informed choices at
the earliest opportunity.
“You either talk to your child or you burry him’’ concludes Mr. Nzau.
Ends…
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