GHARF Team Participates in PMTCT workshopFor proper implementation of Positive Action for Children’s Fund project, GHARF joined other participants to partake in a ten day workshop on Community Based PMTCT and Organizational Development Workshop at Abuja.

The workshop was conducted in August 2016 with sponsorship by Pathfinder International with part of its aim being to increase the knowledge and skills of Community Based Organization staff in Community Based PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to child Transmission of HIV) and Organizational Development.

Through this workshop, the capacity of GHARF project team members have been built further on areas regarding PMTCT as stipulated in the workshop objectives. More so, a 12 day step down training was conducted for all GHARF staff by the workshop participants.

Cross section of GHARF staff and other GHARF staff, joining forces with other

Participants in the Workshop at Abuja participants at the workshop

Cross section of GHARF staff with other GHARF staff during the step down training at

Participants at the workshop GHARFs office

GHARF IMPLEMENTING INITIATIVE FOR GOOD HEALTH PROJECTReviw meeting,after a 1 day training was conducted for ten GHARF staff at the CCCRN office in Enugu to aid successful implementation of the survey. The survey was conducted by trained GHARF staff with CCCRN staff at the verification point. and other CBOs. Interview method was used to elicit information from OVCs and their Care givers. MUAC was used to check thwe nutritional status of OVCs from 0-4 years.

Home visits to ascertain the well being of OVC at Poly Clinic,Asata, UNTH, Ituku Ozalla and Ikem District Hospital, Ikem. and encourage them to live positively and educate them on drug adherence.

Kids club activity for peer group interaction at Agbani and UNTH, Deworming of OVC. Empowered 10 caregivers in June. Conducted survey exercise for 350 OVC from 20th – 24th June 2016.

Review meeting with HES to educate. Caregvers meeting to educate caregivers on how to take care of their HIV (+) children. CCCRN team visited GHARF for technical assistance.

Project management team meeting was conducted to identify challenges and way forward.

Pix showing (Household Economic Strengthening) HES beneficiaries in a recent review meeting at GHARF’s office under the CCCRN project implementation

V4C PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION CONTINUESVoices for Change is a five year transformational program

PHOTO GALLERY

Fig.1: President, GHARF (Prof. O.C. Nwaorgu) handing over GHARF’s profile and other documents to the Rector (Prof. U.C. Nweze) during the visit.

Fig. 1a: The Focal Person signing attendance sheet while the Rector, President GHARF and others watches.

Fig. 1b: Facilitators listening to the discussion during the visit.

Fig. 1c: The Rector (Prof Nweze) signing the attendance

Annex 6: Pictures of the Activity

FGD Pictures

IMT

Fig. 1d: The Rector, President, GHARF and focal person in a group photo. Fig. 1e: Group photograph after the visit

Fig 1: Participants during group work in one of the Joint sessions

Fig 1c: A group making presentation Fig 1d: Another Group presentation

Fig 3: A participant reading out a

FGD AT UNN

PPSS Review Meeting at UNN

Fig 2a: Focus Group Discussion in progressFig 2b: participants taking an

Fig 2c: FGD continued

Fig 4: PPSS Review meeting at Focal Person’s office Fig 4a: A participant making a contribution during the review meeting

Fig 3a: FGD Continued.

Pictures of the Outreach for the Girl’s Brigade

Fig4b: PPSS Review meeting

Fig 5: Ebele facilitating a session Fig 5a: Participants during the group discussion

Fig 5b: A participant demonstrating a Fig 5c: Group representatives presenting their group discussion

VARIETY CORNERPOEMWomen-weaker of the sexes,

So they are referred to always,

Yet in pains they endure in more ways,

Stronger than the strongest of sexes.

The hard work of human existence,

They see to and make their priority,

The stronger of sexes stand on this reality,

And always readily fail to justify their stance.

Emotions and pain- the order of the day,

As they try to make up what was left undone,

By their ‘strongest of sexes’ who had gone,

In the option to leave, they would rather stay.

The thought of her offspring’s in her mind

Fig 5d: Group representatives presenting their group discussion

Fig 5e: In a lighter mood! Facilitators during an energizer

Drama on harmful traditional practices against widows.(The living room of Late Mr. Izunna. The setting depicts mourning as relatives, friends and the immediate family of the deceased grieve over the demise of their loved one. This was going on when, Mr. Chike, the deceased elder brother takes the centre stage)

Chike: Hey! Woman, (pointing a finger at Mrs Izunna) you have succeeded right? You have succeeded in killing my beloved brother. What did you do to him? He was hale and hearty the last time he visited the village.

Mrs. Izunna: (Weeping and shaking head) I have already told you what happened. God is my witness. Since he lost the big contract he signed for, he hasn’t been himself. I kept consoling him and stood by him through the difficult period. The Doctor said he died of cardiac arrest. Oh! Izu oooo, why did you…

Chike: (Interrupts her) Sharrap! Cardiac your head! Foolish woman! Husband killer! I knew it from the day he married you. I told him not to but he wouldn’t listen. Now see the outcome. (Glares at her) just say that you poisoned him and he died. Nonsense! Fool!! Witch!!!

Village Elder: Yes! She is a witch and has sucked our son to death.

Village Head: (Clears throat and everyone keeps silent with subdued sobs from Late Mr. Izunna’s Wife and Kids) Ehm…first and foremost, the wife of our Late brother will have to abide by the stipulations of our custom.

Mrs. Izunna: (Recollecting how they treat widows exclaims) Oh please! (Kneels down) don’t do this to a helpless and innocent widow. I did not kill my husband. All of you know that for the past twenty seven years of our marriage I have virtually worshipped my Dear husband. Why do I have to kill him now? I have five kids to cater for alone. Please, I…

Village Head: You shall from henceforth leave our sons’ house, properties, shares and every other thing belonging to him. You no longer have rights to anything that is his.

Chike: (Hits his walking stick on the floor) Yes, it is our tradition and tradition must be followed.

(Other relations and Elders of the village nod in agreement as Mrs Izunna weeps uncontrollably while they drag her and her children out of the her Late husbands’ house).

Epilogue: Mrs. Izunna’s children later grew up and became well educated through the efforts of their mother engaging in small scale business and the timely intervention of some philanthropists and NGOS while the harmful widowhood practices is being curbed through enlightenment and sensitization of community members.

(This story is fictitious. Any semblance with people or someone living or dead is totally coincidental)

NUGGETS HIV does not make people dangerous to know, so you can shake their hands and give them a hug: Heaven knows they need it. Princess Diana

Children are like apples, in them are seeds that can produce great harvest if planted and nurtured. If purchased, it does wonders but if overlooked, be the judge. Shalom Okwey

One day, I’d love to say, I used to have HIV. Anonymous

HIV is like every other manageable ailment. Let’s stop the discrimination! Ene Stella

CHILDREN AS APPLES Apples are regarded as the king of all fruits while children are the leaders of

tomorrow. Apples are good for one’s health while children are the cure for barren

women. They help sustain marriages Children have a future and Apples have a future through their seeds Apples have many virtues likewise children Apples can be grown almost everywhere. Similarly, children can be found

everywhere. On the outside, it is a colourful fruit while children’s complexion varies. An apple a day keeps the Doctor away, a child in the family keep smiles on

the faces of parents and grandparents. Thus reducing their chances of hypertension

Strange but true, seeds of apples may not necessarily taste as the apple from which the seeds were taken, an exceptionally fine kind of apple could result. Children, when they grow, procreate and give birth to a better version of themselves (Male and Female).

The apple trees are sprayed with chemicals to guard them against pests while children are nurtured and shielded from exposure to abuse, trafficking and the like.

An apple tree which is properly cared for bear fruit for a period of thirty years or even longer while a child who is properly nurtured can be of enormous value to the family, nation and the world.Reach out to children today for a better tomorrow!(SHALOM OKWEY)

WORD SEARCHFind the words from the right column in the grid. Words may be forward, backward, up, down or diagonal.

V P R X E S D R R M VULNERABLERVSSFHRIGHTSGHARFMARPSMSMSTISEXCHILDREN

F U Y C H T D Q S DF S L U E H E M O YG A H N R G H A R FH F S P E I S R E PI G F S V R F P Y XI G K F J Y A S G CD V I H F Z T B K BL G O O Y I W X L NS N E R D L I H C E