Why is Prevention important?

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. And there is no cure for HIV or AIDS.

For every person who began effective anti-HIV treatment in 2006, six became newly infectedwith the virus. As a result, HIV and AIDS prevention is one of SAPEP’s priorities and prevention activities form a core part of our work in the field.

What does SAPEP do?

Literacy levels are low and innovative approaches to behaviour change have been adopted.

Theatre for Development
We offer “Training of Trainers” workshops to Peer Educators in Theatre for Development. Role plays are used to communicate prevention messages. Situations that the audience may have found themselves in are enacted n order to illustrate the choices that community members have when it comes to protecting
themselves from HIV and AIDS. Dramas are followed by a facilitated discussion on the issues ortrayed in the drama. This approach is used at under-five and antenatal clinics, in schools, and during public holiday celebrations to sensitise audiences on issues of HIV and AIDS, voluntary counselling and testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and AIDS, etc.

Sports
Sports events are organised by zonal committees in order to encourage the involvement of young people and to encourage gender equity through mixed participation. During half time and after the match, club members have the chance to deliver messages on HIV and AIDS to players and spectators.

Door to door sensitisations
In farming communities, peer educators and club members visit families living in commercial farming compounds on a 1-to-1 basis in order to raise issues about HIV and AIDS and suggest responsible protective strategies.

Radio programmes
We have two weekly radio programmes which are broadcast to seven districts in the province and disseminate basic information about HIV and AIDS and sexual and reproductive health. Competitions are held to increase listenership and participation.

Exhibitions
SAPEP is present at key traditional ceremonies (such as Lwiindi) as well as agricultural shows and entertainment events, in order to draw attention to the organisation’s activities and to promote HIV and AIDS prevention and mitigation messages.

Lobbying and Advocacy
At zone level, peer educators facilitate an open community discussion between traditional leadership and their subjects on the effects of customs and traditions on the spread of HIV and AIDS. As an organisation, SAPEP brings together the highest-ranking leaders to discuss policy and bylaws to protect communities and combat HIV and AIDS.

What are the results?

Comprehensive knowledge of HIV and AIDS in rural communities is increasing and even in the most remote areas, community members have a better understanding of how to protect themselves and their families through our interventions.

Through close collaboration with our organisation, traditional leadership has been supportive of HIV and AIDS prevention messages. For example, Chief Hanjalika has outlawed sexual cleansing in his chiefdom in Mazabuka district.

Women’s position in the community has improved. Field officers have reported that women’s contributions are now actively welcomed in community discussions. Women need to be able to make responsible choices about their sexual behaviour. Empowering women is a way in which we can facilitate this development.

What are the plans for the future?

We want to drive towards gender equality by increasing the number of female peer educators and club leaders.

In order to improve essential HIV and AIDS prevention workshops such as Critical Look at Self and Theatre for Development, we hope to develop our own training manuals.

None of our plans can be fulfilled without your support, so please donate online.