“Strengthening HIV/AIDS Prevention through Acceleration of Uptake of Male Circumcision Services”.
Faith and Hope Counselling Services Limited by guarantee is in collaboration with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) for the stated project.
The focus of the project is to improve and indeed capacitate the Corporates (i.e. private sector business houses and parastatal organizations) in appreciating the scientific aspects associated with male circumcision as a tool for the prevention of HIV/AIDS infections. The first phase of this project is covering Corporates in Lusaka, Kafue and Chongwe.
To contribute to the reduction of the prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS, the up-scaling of the use of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a prevention tool is critical. We have noted that the Government through the Ministry of Health is working with several Partner organizations in providing VMMC services. We have however identified the need to upscale the provision of these services through the involvement of Corporates by way of imparting them with the required scientific knowledge on VMMC as an HIV/AIDS prevention tool, hence our Project with AHF.
Training on Sensitization, Awareness and Promoting Peer Educators in HIV/AIDS
Faith and Hope Counselling Services Limited by guarantee conducted several training programmes on Sensitization, Awareness and promotion of Peer Educators. The focus of these training programmes was to capacitate the participants with skills on HIV/AIDS to enable them influence their communities as well as contribute to sustainable livelihoods. The topics covered during these training programmes included the following amongst others:
- HIV Pathogenesis
- Why and How Male Circumcision helps in HIV/AIDS prevention
- Contemporary issues in Drug Resistance
- Dynamics of Agriculture and Nutrition
The following organisations have participated in these training sessions:
- Zambia Police, Central Province Headquarters in Kabwe – Over 100 Police Officers representing all the ranks participated in this training programme. The Central Province Police Commend was grateful that this training has come at a right time as the Zambia Police in general has in the past been robbed of productive human resources due to the pandemic.
- Zambia Police Officers in Kapiri Mposhi and Mkushi – Over 80 Police Officers from all ranks participated in this training programme. The Police Command in these two Districts also expressed gratitude for the training and its positive impact on the health and nutritional status of its Officers.
Cherub Security Limited in Lusaka – Over 50 participants from Cherub Security Limited participated in this training programme. Amongst these were participants from Copperbelt Province who unreservedly expressed the positive benefits of the training programme on their health and livelihoods.
“I Care Heath” Youth Engagement Workshop
Faith and Hope Counselling Services facilitated this workshop in order to aid a group of selected youths to understand and reflect on their well-being and health in order for them to make meaningful, healthier decisions and choices. During these meetings, a young volunteer trained by us was tasked to lead and facilitate discussions on VMMC general health issues.