Candidates of the District Constitutional Committee line-up to show their numbers to votes
Observers at the Ward meeting on the planned New Constitution at Kimandolu Ward taking note
One of the Candidates of the District Constitutional Committee post speak to listeners during voting exercise to ask for elected
Facilitator addressing the Ward Committee Meeting cited on “How Excessive Alcohol Consumption Contributes HIV Transmission and Acceleration of Poverty in The Community”
ANEPHA+ Participation Report in Ward Development Committee Meeting Kimandolu Ward on 19th March 2013
ANEPHA+ was invited to participate in Ward Development Committee meeting in Kimandolu ward in order to present a topic on HOW EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION CONTRIBUTES HIV TRANSMISSION AND ACCELERATION OF POVERTY IN THE COMMUNITY. In order to deliver concrete message ANEPHA+ invited other stakeholders including Faith Swai from Women and Child Vision (WOCHIVI) and Charles Isaiah form Center for Education, Development, Learning and Action (CEDLA) program implemented by HAKIKAZI Catalyst.
The facilitator from ANEPHA+ started by commenting that one of the major challenges in our community is alcoholism and drug abuse. This is the main cause of bad behavior/manners and divorce. He cited the dilemma the community faces in future if proper intervention is not taken now.
Alcoholism is also the cause of marriage separation, prostitution, new HIV transmission, orphans and vulnerable children, robbery and deaths caused by drunken driving.
He gave an explicit explanation that when parents are involved in alcoholism they normally fail to care for their children to the extent of leaving them to scavenge for their daily bread in some instances in doing so; some boys indulge in robbery while girls opt for commercial sex resulting in childhood pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and contracting of HIV. This statement caused the participants to grunt and others showed obvious grief.
The facilitator also gave a brief report of a survey conducted by ANEPHA+ which involved visiting bars and interviewing bar-maids. The bar-maids and attendants revealed that some of them are not paid formal salaries but given some incentives approximately Tsh. 500/= up to 1000/= per day. Other income to fill gaps for surviving depends on commercial sex work.
To make the situation worse, recently school pupils have indulged in drinking spirits enclosed in plastic containers a local brew popularly known as (Kiroba). Due to this bad habit scholars cannot fulfill their expectations and more often than not, fail their examinations. Bars are found in every street and this local spirits are also sold in regular shops and authorities are yet to take necessary legal measures to curb the escalating situation!
It is common nowadays to see youngsters stuffing the local spirits (Kirobas) in their pockets and drink the alcoholic beverage in public. When one passes around their playing ground you will notice a pile of empty Kirobas scattered all over the place, as is it is a dumping place for empty kirobas.
Organizations fighting against AIDS and factors contributing to HIV transmission find it very difficult to realise/achieve results in minimizing infections because drunkenness and sexual practices are two sides of the same coin-inseparable indeed.
Poverty in the community is caused not only by unemployment but also alcoholism. This is because bars start operating since morning to mid-night causing able bodied persons to go without working the whole day. Shops selling alcohol should be opened after noon from 3pm to 11pm in during working days by law. But in some area they start operating around 6am.
He finally stressed that ANEPHA+, WDC members and other stakeholder should say NO; for this situation to continue.
After the above topic facilitator from WOCHIVI set on drug abuse citing that drug abuse has become a stumbling block in our community. Further, much there are some illicit brews and spirits on the streets, most alcoholic drinks are sold legally.
The Ward Executive Officer reported that he and Police Officer Commanding station (OCS) conducted a random check-up at 10 different motorbike parking stations to find out the cause of the increase of motorbike accidents, they found out that in 8 stations some motorbike riders had 4 to 5 packets of local spirits in their pockets.
Another spokes person said that on the survey they conducted among the youth who take these local brews, the youngsters revealed that they are now experiencing some difficulties in sexual power.
The OCS who also attended the meeting said that law breaking can be contained by establishing Community Police who may be of help to the regular police force. He pledged to give training to the community police who may be appointed and give them knowledge and skills to able to detect crimes and the WOCHIVI representative pledged to donate uniforms to the trained community police.
Meeting participants suggested the following:-
- The Community Police should abide by the existing by-laws like reporting to the police concerning business people selling local brews without licenses in premises which are not allowed for such business.
- The authorities to enforce recommended time for alcohol selling in all over the Ward.
- The authorities to make sure that all able persons should stick on their work.
- The authority to make sure that cleanliness is strictly adhered to local premises and surrounding areas.
On lack of employment among bar-maids and the youth in general, participants recommended that income generating activities should be introduced as well as training in entrepreneurship skills. On this suggestion participants reported about the good performance of women Village Community Banking groups (VICOBA) which the youth and bar-maids are reluctant to join. Therefore it was passed unanimously that VICOBA should be introduced to the youth and bar-maids immediately as a pilot project.
Way forward; after as heated discussions, the participants came up with:-
- Alcohol selling licenses should be issued only upon recommendation from the WDC
- All alcoholic beverages must not be sold in ordinary shops.
- The local community should be educated on the impact of alcoholism and transmission of HIV.
- Meeting participants recommended that Community Police groups should be selected during constitution meetings in AOB agenda
- ANEPHA+ pledged to train the youth and bar-maids in entrepreneurship skills through VICOBA program.
- WOCHIVI pledged to give assistance to Community Police in providing uniforms and other necessities.
Reported by:
Andrew Joseph-ANEPHA+ Chief Coordinator