Categoria: Homenews

NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

“No health without mental health”. This is the message chosen by the World Health Organisation to mark International Mental Health Day, which occurs every 10 October. Established in 1992, the anniversary was created with the aim of promoting mental health awareness against all forms of social stigma. The aim of the 2022 edition is to make mental health a global priority, for everyone, in every corner of the world.

“Mental illness – says Giovanni Putoto, CUAMM’s Head of Programming and Scientific Area – is one of the most forgotten sufferings in Italy as in Africa. Our country has been courageous: thanks to the Basaglia law, it took a big step forward, de-institutionalising the approach to the patient. Africa, on the other hand, is still in the early stages of understanding mental illness, which has many facets. CUAMM, particularly in Mozambique, tries to respond to the most fragile categories of people with mental health conditions: adolescents, particularly HIV-positive ones, who experience a state of real suffering both because they are infected, and because with the Coronavirus pandemic they have suffered, considerably, from loneliness. We see poverty of diagnosis and poverty of services. In collaboration with the local authorities, then, we began to include the figure of the psychotherapist or clinical psychologist to support adolescents with HIV. Resources are extremely limited and the African models are different from what we are used to. In the “Western world”, professionals work in multidisciplinary teams: there is not only the clinical psychologist, who does individual or group psychotherapy, we have a neuropsychiatrist and many other competent figures. In Africa this does not happen.

A second aspect we observe concerns the value of the social response through the contribution of local youth associations. All people, young people first and foremost, have specific communication codes, spaces they frequent, and if we are able to involve them in a positive sense, they make an important contribution to reducing psychological discomfort, supporting peers who have behind them experiences of great marginality and relational suffering, especially within the family.

Another category at risk are women victims of gender-based violence: verbal, physical, sexual, economic. Again, the type of approach we are trying to give is aimed at people living in very stressful situations: women in internal displaced people camps. Young people who have lost their roots, their minimum security and are in a state of permanent precariousness. The approach, following international indications, is to provide them with a safe place and assistance that touches on three dimensions: the health one; the psychological one (to understand if there is a form of discomfort, a pathology, such as depression, anxiety); that of legal assistance, which we do not give as CUAMM, but rely on local associations”.

“We have involved – explains Giulia D’Odorico, coordinator in Pemba (Cabo Delgado) of a project on gender-based violence – all those figures who are fundamental at community level, such as traditional healers and midwives, community health workers. It is important to seek a dialogue with them, who act as a bridge and are central actors in responding to the needs of the population. We have organised awareness-raising activities, such as community theatre and meetings aimed at adolescents and women, promoting some good practices to identify support networks to deal with the issue of mental health: first of all, family and friends, then the possibility of seeking more specialist help through CUAMM and health centres’ services”.

“The greatest risk factor for mental illness –  Putoto concludes – is loneliness, and in Africa more and more people are suffering from it, from migrants to displaced persons, all those at the edge of the world. Today, loneliness is no longer considered just a psychological trait, but a health risk factor. CUAMM’s answer, meanwhile, is in “BEING WITH”. We share and we build. With strength, constancy and patience to offer care paths.

There is no lack of virtuous examples, such as the mental health clinic in Wolisso, Ethiopia. A structure that works… and has patients! Just like the projects active in South Sudan and a research in the offing in Tanzania. Small but great results for Cuamm, which fights all year round against all forms of social stigma”.

IF A HEALTH FAIR SAVES YOUR LIFE. FIGHTING CHRONIC DISEASES

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

«I was wandering around the market stand at FEIMA, Maputo’s traditional handicrafts fair, when a voice from a loudspeaker invited all visitors to have a free screening. Thus, I discovered CUAMM, engaged in a prevention campaign to measure blood sugar and blood pressure. In the past, I had already checked myself for diabetes at the capital’s Central Hospital, but to be able to do so in this context was fantastic! I hope that similar initiatives will be repeated in the future, because it is important to receive medical advice even outside hospitals».

These are the words of Salvador, 65, collected by CUAMM workers in the field. According to the Ministry of Health, in Mozambique most of the population suffering from diabetes and hypertension do not know their diagnosis: for hypertension, only 15.2% of men in the urban area and 7.9% in the rural area know; 33.2% of women in the urban area and 8.9% in the rural area. For diabetes, 13%. And this is why the “Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases” project, realised by CUAMM, has among its activities the organisation of health fairs to offer screening and diagnosis services, outside health units.

The choice of location always falls on particularly crowded areas, in order to attract attention with the help of community activists, who inform passers-by about chronic diseases, the importance of regular check-ups, and try to encourage them to check that they do not suffer from diabetes and hypertension. As happened in Maputo, during the handicrafts fair: in this context, Naima+, a network of NGOs, organised a fair within a fair, entitled “Your health, our priority”, during which CUAMM was involved in diabetes and hypertension screening activities. Participation was very high and many people who had never heard of NCDs (non-communicable diseases) found out that they were affected, so they started specific treatment.

«I work at a stand at the craft market and, like many colleagues, I had never checked my blood sugar in my life. I am happy that health personnel came to the fair, because I realised the value of proper nutrition to avoid getting sick», Maria Luisa, 48, told us.

CUAMM activist Wuengue explained how even a “simple” job can help save lives: «My job is simple, I talk to people about diabetes and hypertension. I realise, however, that my commitment has great significance when I find that I can convince women and men to go for check-ups. I know that I have the chance to awaken curiosity in people and the desire to take care of their health».

«Non-communicable diseases are silent and, often, people only arrive at the emergency room when their health is compromised. With these health fairs we are able to do prevention and save lives», said health technician Helder.

When someone is reluctant to get screened, the elderly and young people are convinced to get tested thanks to the awareness of the activists who have skills and sensitivity. The craft market provided an ideal opportunity to raise awareness about insidious and rapidly increasing, but preventable and controllable diseases through good practices and early diagnosis.

PROMOTING HEALTH STARTING FROM THE WORKPLACE

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

Living sustainably in a big city can now seem like an oxymoron. While job opportunities are greater than in the countryside, overcrowding in urban areas has a significant impact on health. According to World Bank estimates, today 55 per cent of the global population lives in cities, but by 2050 this will reach 68 per cent. Numbers that are worrying, if the challenges of urbanisation are not addressed now, promoting better access to health services, especially in countries with few resources.

Dar es Salaam, the administrative capital of Tanzania, is one of the fastest growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa. It could soon become a megacity with 10 million people. Here, since last June, Doctors with Africa CUAMM has been developing an urban health project in a textile factory, Tanzania Tooku Garments, that produces 8 million jeans a year, with the aim of raising awareness among its 4,000 employees on the importance of taking care of their health, through regular check-ups, proper nutrition, good hygiene practices, etc.

In rural areas of the country, life expectancy has increased by 13 years, compared to 3 years in urban areas. People living in cities also have higher under-five mortality and maternal mortality than in rural areas.

From the countryside to the city

CUAMM almost always operates in rural areas, which are generally more in need of help, but the need for a programme to be activated in a big city stems from the fact that less healthy lifestyles are more widespread here than in the “countryside”: “junk” food is at hand and people often lead sedentary lives.

Promoting health education in a factory also makes it possible to raise awareness among a large number of people at the same time. CUAMM welcomed the proposed collaboration with Tooku Garments with interest, also because this is a context in which 75% of the workers are women and 80% are between 20 and 30 years old. These are many future and young mothers who, one day, will be able to pass on the value of prevention to their children.

“In order to properly conduct wellbeing programmes for workers,” explains Franziska Jautz, Head of Human Resources at Tooku, ” among many organisations and after thorough research, we chose Doctors with Africa CUAMM, because in addition to having competent professionals, it has maternal and child health at heart. CUAMM’s philosophy perfectly meets Tooku’s needs. I think this is also a new challenge for CUAMM, which had never operated in such a context before”.

That is not all. Effective workplace policies are an investment in public health: they can have a positive impact on employers, employees, but also on the health of the community. The former benefit from reduced direct costs, while employees reduce health risks and improve their quality of life.

“Trust between employee and employer has also increased and people feel freer to ask open questions, come to the nursing staff more often, ask for advice and openly share health problems they were too afraid to ask about in the past,” Franziska concludes.

CUAMM’s project in the factory

“We were called by Tooku, which had started to offer small training courses on some aspects of safety at work,” explains Barbara Andreuzzi, CUAMM project manager, “but it needed to strengthen health education for workers and nurses. Yes, because the company is so big that it has five nurses among the staff (four women and one man working the night shift) working full-time on first aid. So, we came up with a well-structured programme to train the nurses who, once certified, train the workers.

Before we started, we administered a digital questionnaire to understand the starting status, probing a little into the knowledge and habits of the workers. This first step was not easy, both because of the lack of interest and the poor digitisation of the workers. So, we equipped ourselves with tablets and, with the support of the factory’s human resources department, in the end, we collected a good number of surveys, 1,000!

Now we are on the next step. We have produced the training material to be delivered to the nurses. These are Swahili posters with key topics: reproductive health, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, personal care and balanced nutrition and sustainable lifestyles.

A guide was also produced for the nurses to deepen the topics summarised on the posters, as well as a week-long training they received. Then, the health workers started to lecture the workers: every day, 20 minutes before lunch to address a topic to 30 employees. The aim of the project is to promote good health-related practices. We will ensure that the nurses are able to convey key messages on healthy behaviour. At the end, we will administer a new questionnaire to see if the messages have been received by the employees”.

“The training I received from CUAMM has really helped me to improve my knowledge about health, I now know how to protect myself, as well as how to prevent certain diseases,” adds Elionora, a nurse who has been working in the factory for a year. Thanks to the course, I can train my colleagues so that they in turn raise awareness among those who know nothing about health and also those who want to increase their knowledge”.

Before the end of the project, CUAMM and Tooku’s corporate social responsibility team could explore a possible evolution of the pilot project to also involve outsiders from the employees’ family network, thus using the factory as a kind of hub to engage the community and promote health outside the workplace.

Responding to the Challenge of Non-communicable Diseases

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

On September, Monday 19th in Freetown, Doctors with Africa CUAMM, in partnership with Partners In Health and MOHS, has presented to the Ministry of Health, PEN-Plus NCD Implementation, an integrated care delivery strategy of a group of severe NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) as type 1 diabetes, hypertension, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and sickle cell at secondary levels.

«In Sierra Leone, at the national level, the PEN-PLUS project creates an opportunity to support the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in adopting appropriate tools to guide implementation of the NCD response in the country, strengthen the capacity of health care workers in quality service provision and generate evidence for decision making and advocacy.  – states Pauline Kibe, CUAMM Project Manager in Sierra Leone– This success of this project will be pivotal in defining the future of the NCD response in the country».

 NCDs are increasingly becoming a profound health concern for Sierra Leoneans and priority for MoHS then. Patients with diabetes living in rural parts of Sierra Leone, one of the world’s poorest countries, with a population of 7.5 million, with over 60% of its residents living below the poverty line often, struggle to get life-saving drugs as programmes addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) tend to be urban-based. But an initiative to address life-threatening NCDs affecting patients has been extended to rural parts.

A study on the burden of NCDs in Sierra Leone highlights alarming trends in mortality rates and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) resulting from NCDs over the past decade.  In 2017, 39.5% of all deaths and 33.9% of all DALYs were attributable to NCDs and other injuries as compared with 18% and 23%, respectively, from the prior 10 years.

It is noteworthy that, in 2013, MOHS began developing and implementing strategies aimed at addressing the increasing burden of NCDs.  For instance, the country’s first National NCD policy to facilitate integration of NCD care services into the public health agenda was launched in 2013. Even prior to that, Sierra Leone had also been implementing the WHO Package of Essential Non-Communicable Diseases Intervention (WHO-PEN) for primary health care. While these interventions saw appreciable achievements along some metrics, certain significant challenges still remain. Some of these challenges include low skill levels among health workers, poverty and difficulty maintaining wellbeing, lack of access to quality health services, inconsistent funding, and poor data monitoring and evaluation feedback mechanisms, to name a few.

In an effort to address these ongoing challenges, and to build upon the successes of the country’s WHO PEN programs, Partners in Health, CUAMM and the MOHS are undertaking joint efforts to implement a 3-year PEN-Plus Program (2022-2024). PEN-Plus complements WHO PEN, which addresses less severe NCDs such as uncomplicated hypertension and type 2 diabetes at the health center level. PEN-Plus focuses on service provision in rural settings and aims to provide integrated chronic care services for a group of severe NCDs, including diagnosis, symptom management, psychosocial support, palliative care, and referral for surgical and other specialty care when necessary.  PEN-Plus also bridges major gaps in training, mentorship, and referral pathways for NCD services and the program will be training mid-level providers such as nurses and clinical officers.

Given the positive outcomes PIH has had with implementing a NCD clinic in rural areas, noting CUAMMs extensive work on diabetes, and through the strengthened partnership between the two successful organizations, the PEN-Plus program will pursue to establish a “model rural PEN Plus site“ for NCD care in Sierra Leone at KGH (a district hospital), by improving availability and quality of NCD clinical services, conduct a needs assessment in Pujehun District to enable implementation of a second NCD Pen-Plus clinic, establish KGH as a PEN Plus training center and rural rotation site for NCD management, strengthen the decentralized WHO PEN approach for management of less complex cases at primary health facilities in Kono District and collaborate with MOHS to develop a national strategic and operational plan for PEN Plus implementation.

A small step forward to meet the challenges of NCDs.

RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGE OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

On September, Monday 19th in Freetown, Doctors with Africa CUAMM, in partnership with Partners In Health and MOHS, has presented to the Ministry of Health, PEN-Plus NCD Implementation, an integrated care delivery strategy of a group of severe NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) as type 1 diabetes, hypertension, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and sickle cell at secondary levels.

«In Sierra Leone, at the national level, the PEN-PLUS project creates an opportunity to support the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in adopting appropriate tools to guide implementation of the NCD response in the country, strengthen the capacity of health care workers in quality service provision and generate evidence for decision making and advocacy.  – states Pauline Kibe, CUAMM Project Manager in Sierra Leone– This success of this project will be pivotal in defining the future of the NCD response in the country».

 NCDs are increasingly becoming a profound health concern for Sierra Leoneans and priority for MoHS then. Patients with diabetes living in rural parts of Sierra Leone, one of the world’s poorest countries, with a population of 7.5 million, with over 60% of its residents living below the poverty line often, struggle to get life-saving drugs as programmes addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) tend to be urban-based. But an initiative to address life-threatening NCDs affecting patients has been extended to rural parts.

A study on the burden of NCDs in Sierra Leone highlights alarming trends in mortality rates and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) resulting from NCDs over the past decade.  In 2017, 39.5% of all deaths and 33.9% of all DALYs were attributable to NCDs and other injuries as compared with 18% and 23%, respectively, from the prior 10 years.

It is noteworthy that, in 2013, MOHS began developing and implementing strategies aimed at addressing the increasing burden of NCDs.  For instance, the country’s first National NCD policy to facilitate integration of NCD care services into the public health agenda was launched in 2013. Even prior to that, Sierra Leone had also been implementing the WHO Package of Essential Non-Communicable Diseases Intervention (WHO-PEN) for primary health care. While these interventions saw appreciable achievements along some metrics, certain significant challenges still remain. Some of these challenges include low skill levels among health workers, poverty and difficulty maintaining wellbeing, lack of access to quality health services, inconsistent funding, and poor data monitoring and evaluation feedback mechanisms, to name a few.

In an effort to address these ongoing challenges, and to build upon the successes of the country’s WHO PEN programs, Partners in Health, CUAMM and the MOHS are undertaking joint efforts to implement a 3-year PEN-Plus Program (2022-2024). PEN-Plus complements WHO PEN, which addresses less severe NCDs such as uncomplicated hypertension and type 2 diabetes at the health center level. PEN-Plus focuses on service provision in rural settings and aims to provide integrated chronic care services for a group of severe NCDs, including diagnosis, symptom management, psychosocial support, palliative care, and referral for surgical and other specialty care when necessary.  PEN-Plus also bridges major gaps in training, mentorship, and referral pathways for NCD services and the program will be training mid-level providers such as nurses and clinical officers.

Given the positive outcomes PIH has had with implementing a NCD clinic in rural areas, noting CUAMMs extensive work on diabetes, and through the strengthened partnership between the two successful organizations, the PEN-Plus program will pursue to establish a “model rural PEN Plus site“ for NCD care in Sierra Leone at KGH (a district hospital), by improving availability and quality of NCD clinical services, conduct a needs assessment in Pujehun District to enable implementation of a second NCD Pen-Plus clinic, establish KGH as a PEN Plus training center and rural rotation site for NCD management, strengthen the decentralized WHO PEN approach for management of less complex cases at primary health facilities in Kono District and collaborate with MOHS to develop a national strategic and operational plan for PEN Plus implementation.

A small step forward to meet the challenges of NCDs.

Implementation research in low and middle income countries 2026 edition

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

A training course on implementation research in low and middle-income countries: theoretical training will be accompanied by practical exercises and group works.

An in-presence course lasting three days, from Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 February, at the headquarters of Doctors with Africa Cuamm, in Padua, Italy.

The 2026 edition of the course will be entirely in English, to allow international researchers to participate as well.

The course is addressed to young graduates, postgraduates, PhD students with a healthcare or related background and/or professionals interested in learning more about operational research in the field.

A course organized by

 

In partnership with
With the patronage of

Enrolment: The course has a limited number of participants. To enrol, please complete the registration fields below. Only after receiving a confirmation email, it is possible to pay the contribution. In the event of too many applications, a selection of participants will be made.

Payment: After receiving confirmation of admission to the course, it is possible to make a transfer of Euro 200 at bank MPS, IBAN IT95 W010 3012 1500 0000 0295 337 in favour of Doctors with Africa CUAMM with the reason for payment “IR course contribution SURNAME NAME”.

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAMME

Registration is closed because we have reached the maximum number of participants. If you still wish to fill out the registration form below, please note that you will be placed on a waiting list and contacted to participate in the course ONLY IF SOMEONE WHO IS ALREADY REGISTERED WITHDRAWS. We will offer this course again in February 2027.


Nessun campo trovato.

ANNUAL MEETING WITH POPE FRANCIS

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Pope Francis special audience to Doctors with Africa CUAMM, during the twelfth edition of the Annual meeting. We are waiting for you on November 19th in Rome!

ANNUAL MEETING WITH POPE FRANCIS 

NOVEMBER 19th, 2022 

9 a.m. 

Consult the program 

Nessun campo trovato.

CULTURE WEEK IN KARAMOJA: AN OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE BLOOD

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

Karamoja Culture Week, an event that celebrates, every year in September, Ugandan traditions, particularly Karamajong ones, just ended. Involving hundreds of participants, the event becomes an opportunity to raise awareness about healthcare. In the village of Abim, Doctors with Africa CUAMM has promoted the “blood bank”, trying to raise awareness about the importance of donating.

In two days alone, 130 units of blood were collected from generous donors in the food markets of Orwamuget and Nyakwae. The activity is part of a large project, implemented with the support of the Embassy of Ireland, in collaboration with the Ugandan Ministry of Health, the country’s Blood Transfusion Services, the University of Mbarara, health professional associations and the 9 local district governments of Karamoja (Moroto, Kotido, Napak, Abim, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Amudat, Kaabong and Karenga).

The primary objective is to strengthen district health systems in Karamoja to improve access to health for mothers, children, adolescents (RMNCAH) and HIV patients. At the same time, the program aims to encourage capacity for the safe collection, storage, distribution and use of blood and plasma.

«When my son was sick at the age of three – says Adero Pauline, who sells manioc at the Nyakwea market – we reached the hospital. The kid needed blood, but there were no units available at that time. So, we were forced to travel more than 30 kilometres to reach Amolatar district. During those hours of travelling, I thought my baby was not going to make it. Thank goodness, we found the blood and my son survived. Now he is 11 years old, he is doing well and that is why I am here today to donate, in the hope of saving the lives of other children who might need it».

Prophecy Official, a gospel singer from Abim, also participated in the Culture Week in Karamoja: «Many mothers die from post-partum haemorrhages. I donate blood whenever the opportunity is given, so that I can save as many women as possible».

«When I was 16 years old – remembers Ernest Ayen, Abim district youth chairman – on my way back from school, I found out that my mother had just been admitted to the hospital and needed an immediate blood transfusion, which, fortunately, arrived».

«I have a cousin who was recently rushed to the hospital, right when I was at her house. She needed blood, but there was none at the hospital in Abim. My uncle had to rush to Lacor Hospital in Gulu, 300 kilometres away. Thanks to the transfusion, she is now healthy.

I am grateful to the donors, this is why I give myself. CUAMM explained to me that the blood collected during the event will remain in our region to save mothers and children. I am happy about this!».

Blood donation represents, in concrete terms, a public health intervention: we donate not only to do good to the recipient, but also to ourselves.

OBSTETRICIANS WITH AFRICA THANKS TO MEGA SCHOLARSHIP

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Lucia and Elisabetta, ages 22 and 25, both had the strong desire to get to know Africa. There was no doubt in Lucia’s mind when she attended the Michele Mega Scholarship Project presentation at the University, she wanted to apply for the 2022 edition: «Listening to the testimonies and the stories, seeing the faces of the female students who left before me was the motivational drive. Today I realize that the time spent in the field was much more than an experience, it was an opportunity for professional and personal growth».

For Elisabetta, Africa has always been her calling: «I decided to enrol in the Obstetric degree program because my dream is to work in developing countries. Winning the Mega scholarship and learning the profession in a hospital with limited resources was a profound moment of living with Africa. I will be working hard so that it can be repeated in the future!».

Being very young, this was the first trip to Africa for Lucia and Elisabetta: a window to understand how to practice health cooperation with, the true mission of Doctors with Africa CUAMM. Ethiopian obstetricians followed the students in their internship journey, gifting satisfaction and precious memories. «The greatest gratification – for Lucia – was when, at the end of a long day, the head nurse told me: ‘You will be a very good obstetrician!’. These words filled my heart, because I did not expect them».

Elisabetta, on the other hand, cannot forget the relationships she formed with patients, «I felt gratified in so many small moments when I was able to be ‘home’ for a mother to-be. Sometimes, all it takes to reassure a woman in labour is a look. Eyes speak and welcome ‘I am here with you now’ mine whispered. With one patient in particular it was exciting to build trust during a difficult birth, then, to find her after a long time by chance, with her healthy baby. She stopped to say goodbye and thanked me. It was proof that even if you meet for just a short time, the experience you share is intense and you cherish it forever».

The biggest obstacle for Lucia and Elisabetta was working in a setting with limited resources, where helplessness is often experienced. «Even though I was aware of what I was getting into – explains Lucia – being in a hospital where children are dying at any moment really tested me».

Grief is also processed through the support of colleagues, with whom friendships can be formed. With healthcare professionals, opinions are exchanged, skills are refined, cultures are compared. «I met an Ethiopian nurse, who invited me to her home. Her mom cooked lunch and, like all mums in the world, she was worried I was not eating enough. In Ethiopian families, when you have a guest, you offer kid, a delicacy. Because I am vegetarian, my colleague’s mom had to reinvent herself and she was great at cooking veggie dishes! On another occasion this friend of mine lent me a traditional dress to go visit an Orthodox church together, it was especially meaningful to me».

«We lived in a guest house – says Elisabetta – together with the medical residents, the Junior Project Officers, with whom we teamed up. Many interesting people came through here, like a computer scientist without borders, designers, doctors. A really constructive melting pot!».

What about the future? Lucia and Elisabetta are now busy writing their thesis, dedicated precicesly to their experience in Wolisso. «After graduation, I would like to do Universal Civil Service with CUAMM, before finding a job», Lucia concludes. «Before going back to Africa – Elisabetta expresses – I would like to deepen my training, practicing in Italian hospitals, and then live in the field and offer a complete clinical background!».

IN SCHOOL WITH TEENS TO FIGHT HIV

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«Since last April, – reports project leader Chiara Didonè from the field – we have been implementing a program, financed by AICS, led by the University of Florence, in the Shinyanga area, with the aim of treating young people effected by HIV, but in particular to raise awareness on the value of prevention. Prejudices related to this virus hinder early diagnosis, as well as geographical distances and poor transportation to reach hospitals and specialized centers discourage people from taking the test.

For this reason, CUAMM goes to schools, setting up stands entrances of institutes. After awareness raising activities, we offer testing. We are also present in the Shinyanga Regional Hospital and in the health centers of Ngokolo and Bugisi, where we support health workers and where we offer real “adolescent clinics” every Saturday, so that young people with HIV can take advantage of routine checkups, receive treatment and meet more of their peers.

During the first phase of the project, in collaboration with local authorities, 15 schools, 10 secondary and 5 primaries, were selected to reach the 10-24 age group. In June alone, the program reached 444 students. Fundamental was the role of CUAMM’s Tanzanian doctor, who also works in sex and reproductive education: together, we overcome language issues – I am learning, slowly, Swahili – but above all else, we try to make the students comfortable.

I remember a significant episode about how words and knowledge can help change perspectives. Before going to a school, I met with one of the teachers to explain how the awareness and screening day would take place and to find out how many young people would participate: out of hundreds initially, only 16 agreed to be tested for HIV. All the others were fearful. Based on this number, we reached the institution with just a stand and one nurse, but after conducting the awareness activity, the screening involved as many as 117 people and we stayed at the school until 7 p.m.!

After that day, I engaged some students in a chat to understand what had contributed to overcome their fear and take the test. The most obvious aspect was to offer that service in school, in a context where almost every one of them felt understood. We professionals are a young team, we put music on, I talked while some students touched my hair, the driver made jokes. With little, we got them involved, as if we were among friends! The emotional bond that develops between CUAMM cooperators, especially during these outreach initiatives, is very strong and it works.

The testing part is always psychologically difficult. I remember when 17-year-old Elisa found out she was positive: the young girl did not know that her mother had HIV. Thanks to CUAMM Elisa was diagnosed, now she receives proper treatment, and has been informed of HIV-positive support project.

There is still much work to be done to combat prejudice and properly support patients, but Elisa’s story is proof that what CUAMM is doing is helping.

We have not stopped in summer either, as we have organized community-wide meetings with “over 20s”. Soon we are going back to school, between colleges and high schools, to be with Tanzanian girls and boys. To accompany the hope of a future in wich awareness decreases the risk of contracting the HIV virus, a future that as such, from young people cannot disregard!».