IPASC, DRC Newsletter, October · Web viewThe result is increasing numbers of women ... and Family Planning services utilization . ... Fetching unsafe water for the household This

AMUDA BABA Dieu Merci Executive Director, IPASC

IPASC, DRC Newsletter, Winter 2014

IPASC, DRC Newsletter

Winter, 2014

Welcome to our newsletter

Welcome to our new newsletter which we are sending to all of our supporters through email. We plan to publish this newsletter every three months.We have lay out our website www.ipasc.net where you can now easily reach more updated and fresh news, how IPASC is carrying out health activities among one of the poorest community in the world, in the North – eastern, DRC. We hope to tell you about us, who we are, where we are, our history, life among communities where you are giving supports through our activities.

We have sent this newsletter to you because we have been in contact before.

If you have any suggestions, as to what you might like to hear about, please kindly email us at [email protected] .

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.ipasc.net/


IPASC FINAL EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT « HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT» 2011-2014

On August, 2014, IPASC was receiving an external evaluator from Ace Africa, a Kenyan NGO,

which was recommended by the IPASC partners. The evaluation aim was to provide future

direction of upcoming phases of the project because the current phase of the project was completed on

June 2014, thus it was necessary to formulate a phase taking into consideration the findings of the

evaluation.

As Part of the terms and conditions of the evaluation, this would have to;

- Measure the results, indicators and impact of the project to the objectives and indicators

set and identify what changes, if any, are necessary for the new phase.

- Analyze the extent to which changes in the project are sustainable on targets

- Assess how gender and HIV and AIDS have been integrated into the project

- Assess whether the objectives and strategies of the project are appropriate to different

contexts where the project was implemented.

Findings showed that IPASC has real brought hope to the targeted communities. For instance

and briefly, the above mentioned findings demonstrated clearly that:

- Exposure to IPASC intense campaigns on HIV and AIDS has had an effect among the

youths

- 94% of the youths reported changing their behavior and practices, enabling them to

protect themselves from early pregnancies and HIV/AIDS

- 7 out of every 10 adults knew that you cannot tell that someone has HIV just by looking at

him or her.

- 94% of those interviewed were able to access testing for HIV. This high turnout shows

that the VCT services are trusted.

- All respondents said they accessed water

- The program intervention effectively reduced vulnerability of communities to HIV/AIDS

and gender inequality

- Delivery kits have proved positive and mothers feel that it also reminds them to prepare,

besides being a practical support to ameliorate the pain of delivery and post-partum

stress.

- 89% indicated that HIV is not a punishment from God, 78% showing both men and

women can spread HIV, and that HIV is a disease like other and can be managed, more so

66% disclosed that those who don’t know their status should act responsibly same as

PLWHAs who know their status

- Etc.

Picture 2

Richard and Ruth(Trustees) with the IPASC Board members in ftont the boys’ dormitory

Richard and Ruth(Trustees) with the IPASC Board members in front of the boys’ dormitory


Although, the findings showed some hiatus, it was very satisfying. After the presentation of the

evaluation report to the staffs members, all agree to do better during the next phase.

THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT

Since its beginning, the diploma and degree training programs in Bunia and Aru has allowed 491

students to complete successfully their studies. It is clear that 100% of the students are able to

put their skills into practice. Most of them are offering their services in community healthcare

facilities. ¾ of the graduates ranked IPASC training program as somewhat high in helping build

their careers and would still wish to pursue other advance courses at the centre. These include

courses such as nurse care. For the graduates who offer community services, majority prefer

preventive and promotion of community health activities.

This skilled capacity has to see the graduates offering

services to their immediate systems. From the middle of November, students of 4 th year, joined

health facilities, when they will have to be trained for 6 months before coming back for the final

National exams.

NEEDS

As done country -wide, on September 5th , students have started with the new school year 2014 – 2015. Most of our students come so far from ARU and it is the same for BUNIA. Most of them are away from their families, situated at about 300 Km from Aru or Bunia. So dormitories are of the great value for the IPASC training department. Last year, The Friends of IPASC, UK donated for the building of a dormitory for boys’ students at ARU campus. We are grateful for that great gift. Now the dormitory is useful for these students and contributes in changing their lives. But the matter still for Bunia, which has a Campus where, houses used as dormitories are those built previously for Staffs families. As the priority should be given to Students, Staffs members have to struggle for rent. Especially for Bunia where the campus is situated a few farther from the center – city, several students who are not at the campus, need the bus for transportation. The small bus didn’t arrive to satisfy the need in transportation. It required having a bus of at least, thirty places for the transportation of the students that lives with their parents there in Bunia.

Richard and Ruth, (Trustees), with IPASC Boarder members in

Students at the Library

Meeting of Women’s Insurance – Childbirth group


OPERATIONAL PROGRAMMES

THE SAFE MOTHERHOOD SERVICE

Impact on Fistula casesIPASC operates in its project sites with women with fistula because these women suffer from discrimination and rejection by their societies. IPASC has an education programme to enlighten and raise awareness amongst women and men with regard to fistula and safe motherhood. IPASC has trained groups of women to educate their peers and this they do with enthusiasm and commitment in their target groups in their community.The result is increasing numbers of women are coming forward to receive care and repair. In the last phase of their project IPASC enabled 403 women having repair bringing the total number overall to over 2000. After being repaired, fistula clients receive financial and monetary support from the project. Specifically for the last phase (and for the next phase), some received business stocks, like paraffin, salt, and vegetable oil while some were given bedding. This rehabilitative approach was found to be effective in; (a) Empowering the fistula clients economically by starting and diversifying in small businesses(b) Reducing fistula associated stigma. (c) Encouraging and motivating other untreated fistula patients to seek treatment. (d) Providing additional assistance and succor to the families of the victims. (e) Promoting awareness and acceptability of the project activities among members of the community. There were a lot of encouraging responses from nearly all the respondents with whom IPASC interacted.“I am now very comfortable as a woman and I can now run a business like any other woman” Fistula treatment beneficiary, Kambala area.“Because of this assistance from IPASC, I have no doubt in my mind that some can accept to be (fistula patients) in order to receive assistance.” Fistula treatment beneficiary, Kambala areaWith regards to rehabilitation of fistula patients through IPASC, it is important to note that those clients that have benefited from the economic support enumerated above have commenced income generating activities in their communities which shows an indication of their level of reintegration. However the degree of economic security is assured because of a low level of the financial resources. Maternal HealthKnowledge on danger signs of pregnancy is one of the indications of the impact of BCC (behaviour change communication) activities on knowledge and care seeking on maternal health and obstetric fistula. Women are able to mention key signs such as bleeding, convulsions, nausea and vomiting as well as severe abdominal pain and prolonged labor. It is envisaged that with this increased knowledge base, women have to a degree been able to reduce obstetric emergencies that kill mothers and their newborns through postnatal

IPASC transports women to hospital

Distribution of mattresses for maternities by IPASC

Mrs Gill Brown (Trustee) visiting newborns


haemorrhage, infection and hypertension which are known to be unpredictable. The number of health workers trained in life saving skills parent increases in the number of normal deliveries. This fact can also be supported by the testimony of some of the respondents interviewed such as the one below;“We now appreciate importance of hospital delivery because it is good for the health of the mother and child.” Woman of reproductive age, Leri. With the provision of delivery kits and mattresses in selected health facilities, 71% of the healthcare workers including nurses and midwives confidently reported increased hygiene in delivery rooms. As such, many women visiting the facilities had confidence in health facility deliveries. This provision has also culminated to increased number of most health centre deliveries. Further quotes from some of the community members validates this as below : “IPASC provided just a simple mattress to our health facility. This simple donation and the delivery kits have really changed lives for our women. They can now deliver in good environment and make sure our new borns are safe and healthy” Committee member in Leri “We have mobilised fellow women to join our group. We have saved money and so we are no longer worried when any one of us is due for deliveries. We can pay all the bills and support her a bit after delivery” Chairperson of Leri women groupIt is therefore clear that the resultant effect is instilled positive health seeking behavior among women to help reduce maternal and child mortalities. Corroboration of various data collected pointed out that up to 97% of the women interacted with reported reduced deaths related to pregnancies

Ante Natal Care and Family Planning services utilization An increased number of women are utilizing maternal and health services especially Ante Natal

Care services. Women can now easily access health facilities for check-ups, book for deliveries, confirm pregnancy, ensure healthy pregnancy and for complications. In fact it is now commonly reported than on average each pregnant woman would visit a health facility at least four times.

93% of women reporting have adopted new practices such as delivering in health

facilities, practicing family planning and birth spacing.

Awareness activity in the market with the Service to fight HIV&AIDS


THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV& AIDS SERVICE

General Public Stigma & HIV/Aids Awareness and Attitude

Since the beginning of the Programme, IPASC has had 2882 People Living with HIV in its charge.

Awareness activities among communities have improved considerably the knowledge of their members. More findings on HIV modes of transmission indicates that the majority (85%) recognize that unprotected sexual intercourse with infected partners, sharing of infected sharp items and mother to child transmission are the major modes of transmission. In recent research led by the IPASC monitoring team among the beneficiaries, other modes known are blood transfusion and breastfeeding. When asked about common symptoms, most (67%) respondents quote persistent cough, loss of weight, and fever. Others frequently cited are tuberculosis, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and wounds. These answers show the particular importance in relation to the media campaigns about HIV/AIDS and are key pointers to respondents’ knowledge gaps in as far as HIV transmission and symptoms are concerned.

Project Beneficiary HIV/Aids Awareness and KnowledgeMentioning the above monitoring findings about the project beneficiaries, HIV/AIDS awareness and knowledge levels were also assessed among 93 beneficiaries. Increased awareness and knowledge was demonstrated by respondents through;

- 82% citing that one cannot get HIV by sharing a glass of water - 78% indicating that HIV cannot be spread by mosquitoes - 71% confirming that there is no cure for AIDS, - 70% showing that a woman with HIV can give the virus to her unborn baby and that one

cannot tell her HIV status one week after having sex.- 65% showing that eating healthy foods can keep a person from getting HIV.

Fetching unsafe water for the household

Community involved in the work for building a safe drinking water - source Safe water – source used by the community


-

THE HEALTH PROMOTION SERVICE

Health Promotion:Mosquito NetsThe awareness activities done by IPASC have considerably enhance the use of Mosquito Net

among Communities household where previously, many people neglected it. According to the

last evaluation findings it is reported that, 100 % of visited households use mosquito nets.

However, the evaluation team found that the correct usage stood at 57% only. This was further

exacerbated by the fact that in these households, 61% of users were adults while children under

5 accounted for 28%. There is hence need for enhanced community sensitization as this scenario

translates direct to more malaria infections and increases mortality rates. That needs support for

the continuing of sensitizations activities to be carried out among communities.

Safe water & latrines building This project is achieving a high rate of success. Water is available within 30 minutes’ walk from

domiciles of most of communities’ households. The evaluation findings conforms that : « All

respondents said they accessed water, though 13% said that the water was not adequate for

their needs » Moreover they knew the need to and methods of treating water and were actually

doing it (treatment) with 78% using water tabs to treat water and 22% using

boiling. Other uses of water were hand washing with 65% washing hands before meals

and after visiting toilets. However, a visit to households indicated that 17% were not treating

water and had experienced some waterborne diseases in the last 6 months. Knowledge need to

be deepened here to ensure that all community members understood the need to treat water

and changing of their attitudes 9 latrines are already built at schools and health centers as

latrines are the built for public sites. It supposed to improve community’s health level and

shortly as in its custom, an assessment of the situation will be led by the IPASC Activities

Monitoring Team. All that may be possible with your kind support.

Flame International at IPASC


FUTURE AND PRAYER NEEDS

- There are increased rate of dwindle among our students due to the poverty of their parents. Some scholarships, even small amounts, would encourage most of them particularly women, and be much appreciated

- To build a second house for PLWHIV in transit at Aru for care; that will reinforce CARM (PLWHIV club, working with IPASC from long ago).

FLAME INTERNATIONAL TEAM VISIT AT IPASC (ARU CAMPUS)

At the end of September, the FLAM INTERNATIONAL TEAM visited the ARU Anglican church

diocese. IPASC – Aru Staff members with students were also blessed by that visit. Strong

spiritual life teachings were given to all of them. 3 main themes were detailed: the coming of the

sin on the earth, the power of the forgiveness and the life under ancestors’ sins. We are very

grateful to the FLAME INTERNATIONAL Team.

URGENT NEEDS

- Having a bus of at least 30 seats for students’ transportation from city – center to the campus (Bunia).

- Building a dormitory for students in Bunia Campus. Most of them are not local and are long way from home.

- Getting Funds for the project phase in progress. - Having a CD4 counter device for the VCT (Service to Fight HIV &AIDS).

Documents

IPASC, DRC Newsletter, October · Web viewThe result is increasing numbers of women ... and Family Planning services utilization . ... Fetching unsafe water for the household This