CITAM+

Engaging HIV Civil Society in TB

ACSM Meeting, Cancun 30 Nov 2009

Carol Nawina Nyirenda

National Coordinator

Community Initiative for TB, HIV/AIDS & Malaria

Zambia Country Background

Total Pop: 12, 160, 516m

Administrative set up

9 Provinces 3 cities72 districts

Health Setup# of Hospitals

97# of Health

Centres 1,210

Epidemiological update 2009 HIV prevalence 13.1% Pregnant women HIV prevalence 19.3% People living with HIV 1,482,228 Paediatric HIV population 82,825 Adult HIV deaths 97,494 Paediatric HIV deaths 8,283 Number of Orphans due to AIDS 1,291,079

Statistics from UNAIDS Zambia Country Report of 2008

Background To CITAM+

Community Initiative for Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS & Malaria (CITAM+) is a CBO with a network of TB/HIV support groups in the capital city and some parts of Zambia

Established in 2005 by PLHIV / TB Constituents: 3 provinces, Members: 384 members of TB/HIV co-

infected people

CITAM+

Lusaka

MonguSiavonga

81 support groups

2 support groups

1 support group

CITAM+ and its members

Community level

Through a project funded by OSI to support monitoring of and advocacy for collaborative TB/HIV activities – started TB/HIV advocacy

TB being one of the main killers of PLHIV Started working with already existing HIV

support groups by integrating TB – large HIV disease burden and most have had TB

Addition of TB info on HIV information desks and set up new TB/HIV info desks

Set up new TB/HIV support groups

CITAM+: National, Regional & International Engagement Member of the TB/HIV Joint Collaborative Body Member of the National Infection Control Guidelines

Committee Member of the Zambia Civil Society Health Forum Member of the 3 I’s Network Member of the Partners Zambia E-Forum International level: Global Fund board/ communities

delegation UNITAID, STBP, TB/HIV Activists (supported by

TAG) ITPC, SATAMo, PATAM

Policy analysis – TB/HIV docs Support Group Formation Training in TB/HIV Treatment Adherence Training in DOTS Lay Psychosocial

Counselling Community Outreach Information dissemination at health centres

through information desks Food Distribution to co-infected patients

CITAM+ Activities

Opportunities

Have support of the DHMT to work in the clinics in information dissemination and food distribution to co-infected patients

Have been nationally recognized as lead TB organization on the 3 I’s Project

Most staff are HIV positive, have had TB and came from activist organizations and are treatment literate

Staff have technical skills to do their work in training, community outreach and policy analysis.

Strong support from NZP+, COZWHA and ZAMBART

OPPORTUNITIES

Work through the geographical structures of NZP+ and COZWHA

Enhanced capacity as a result of international exposure

The GIPA Principle

Challenges

Inadequate funding to implement activities and pay salaries.

Lack of transportation to reach other areas hence have to rely on public transportation

Government does not want to work with activists in terms of policy development.

3 I’s NETWORK

Formed after workshop organised by CREATE in conjunction with ZAMBART and CITAM+

Participants – HIV and TB NGOs, CBO’S, FBO’s, support group leaders, health care workers

3I’s and integrating of TB into already existing HIV advocacy strategies

Partnerships CS Health Forum TWG within MoH

Members of 3I’s Network

Capuchin HIV/AIDS Services (CHAS)

CITAM+ International HIV/AIDS

Alliance Network of Zambian

People Living with HIV ZNARVS Railways Clinic

Kalingalinga Clinic Treatment Advocacy

and Literacy Ukani Support Group CIDRZ TB Alliance

SUPPORTED BY: ZAMBART CREATE

Conclusion

HIV NGO’s are now ready and willing to deal with the two diseases at the same time

The government is also integrating activities at their level

There is a gap between the two and these need to come together in order to have visible results at both community and national levels

Pictorial Highlights of some of the CITAM+ activities

Outreach Activities

World TB Day 2009CITAM+ uses drama for community outreach

Advocacy Activities

CITAM+ members during demonstrations

CITAM+ members advocacting for better health services during

World AIDS Day

Capacity Building

Training Lay Psychosocial Counselors

Training Treatment adherence supporters in Siavonga

Training Treatment adherence supporters in Siavonga

Supporting Support Group IGAs and Food Distribution

Positive Living Garden for Lusaka West Support Group

Food Supplements that are distributed to PLHIV