KICOSET Profile
1. ABOUT KICOSET
1.1 Background.
The Kilimanjaro Community Service Trust Fund (KICOSET) was founded in 2003 with an overall objective of actively working on HIV and AIDS prevention and impact mitigation programs in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro region.
In January 2009, KICOSET started on a new strategic Plan (2009 - 2014) that among other things seeks to re-invigorate HIV prevention Strategies within its catchments area through enhanced partnerships.
1.2 Vision:
A Community free from HIV and AIDS
1.3 Mission:
KICOSET exists to contribute to a process of Preventing HIV infection, restoring hope and improving the quality of life of persons, families and communities affected by HIV infection and its impacts in Moshi Municipality.
1.4 At Personal Level:
One-to-one counseling, which empowers the infected/affected person to make informed decisions, which improve the quality of life and facilitate the balance between Rights and Responsibilities:
Sensitive and compassionate care which provides early diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections and enhances living positively and dying with dignity.
1.5 At Family Level:
Counseling for the family members, which dispels their fears of contracting HIV through casual contact, facilitates care of the infected and affected persons and prepares the family for and supports them during bereavement. Facilitation of provision of home nursing care and nutritional materials.
1.6 At Community Level:
Community counseling which empowers the community to organize an appropriate response to the problems generated by HIV. Facilitation of community planned responses, community evaluation of their responses and mobilization of community resources.
1.7 Philosophy:
“Living Positively with HIV/AIDS”
In practical terms, clients are encouraged to:
• Accept their diagnosis
• Seek prompt medical care
• Practice safer sex
• Continue to earn an income
• Plan for the families and dependants
• Seek counseling
• Maintain a balanced diet
• Have adequate sleep and exercise
• Continue with normal social activities
• Avoid harmful habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking
1.8 Objectives:
• To reduce the rate of new infection among the infected and prevent those who are not infected through HIV prevention programs.
• To offer counseling services to people with HIV/AIDS and their Families.
• To train Counselors for KICOSET and to ensure effective provision of counseling.
• To reduce HIV and AIDS burden to the infected and the affected population of Moshi Municipality through HIV and AIDS support programs.
• To sensitize the public and to promote positive attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS and their families.
• To minimize the social ills caused by HIV/AIDS through material support to clients and their families.
• To build collaboration in communication and information exchange with other organization, government, other networks, national and international organization.
• To have resource mobilization strategies for the organization sustainability.
• To enhance research aimed at improving HIV and AIDS service delivery through participation, (Research to inform service).
• To build and support community-based efforts initiated to respond to AIDS epidemic.
2. SERVICE AND PROGRAMS
KICOSET's core business includes Home Based Care and Counseling, Peer Education, OVC’s Support.
3. HOME BASED CARE AND COUNSELING
Where and when necessary, home-based care is provided to bedridden clients. During home visits relatives/home caregivers are provided with information by KICOSET trained community Volunteer nurses or KICOSET staff. The home caregivers have adequate basic knowledge to be able to provide Home Nursing and emergency care.
KICOSET initiated a Home Based Care program with an objective of improving care and support systems at homes of the infected and affected families.
Activities implemented under this program include to:
1. Educate the patient and the family members on how to care physically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually.
2. Insist on adherence to medication and more especially to ARVs.
3. Educate the family practically on how to manage the opportunistic infections.
4. Educate on proper diet keeping in mind the financial status of the family.
5. Insist on how important is to regularly visit clinic for check ups.
6. Give referrals.
7. Provide family counseling.
8. Monitor the day to day health condition of the patients.
9. Collect record.
3.1 COUNSELING
Counseling is the oldest service offered by KICOSET and is the basis upon which the organization was founded.
KICOSET provides psychosocial support in pretest, post test, prevention, and supportive aspects of HIV/AIDS counseling. This service is effective in providing accurate information about HIV/AIDS, STDs, treatment, Family Planning, human rights, appropriate referral Services centers as well as enhancing living positively with HIV/ AIDS. It also promotes prevention of further spread of HIV.
Counseling in KICOSET is accessed by individuals, couples, group counseling to people with common problems, children and family members of index clients.
Counseling takes place at all the KICOSET established service centers, outreach clinics, homes of clients and at hospitals where KICOSET provides support.
Each client in KICOSET is attached to a counselor and there is a lot of mutual trust between the two where principles of different levels of confidentiality are observed. Counseling is always extended to the members of the clients' family in order to promote acceptance of care of people with HIV/AIDS and encouragement to those who may still be in fear of finding out their HIV Sero-status. It also becomes very helpful during bereavement.
KICOSET has a support group of 25 people living with HIV who meet monthly for their psychosocial support group meeting. They are taught about their involvement in HIV work from need identification, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation. HIV and AIDS awareness and ARV adherence.
4. PEER EDUCATION
With six Peer Educators, KICOSET manages to reach the communities in Moshi Municipality. Using their innovative techniques such as attractive songs, drama, poems and traditional dance in information delivery, KICOSET is well known around and it has been attracting a huge crowd of people. There are topics arranged for awareness creation, each of these events go parallel with condom distribution exercise.
Peer Educators demonstrates the proper usage of condoms to youth and elderly people.
5. OVC’s SUPPORT
Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) has been an area of focus towards HIV and AIDS impact mitigation programs where by KICOSET has not lagged behind. With the help of Peer Educators, Home Based Care Providers and sensitization meetings, these children are identified where they are and a visit done for confirmation. After a critical investigation, which includes family members, neighbors, Ward Executive Officers and teachers for in school children, a list of OVC’s with their respective needs is developed.
Currently KICOSET has a list of 223 OVC’s identified in the three wards of Longuo, Rau and Karanga who are in need of support and more especially nutrition and school materials. Among these, KICOSET has been supporting only 30 OVC’s materially from SAT as no other donor in place.
School children are facing school facilities problems and hence drop out of school or stigmatized by others. In supporting them materially, will reduce school drop-out and stigma hence good performance that will prepare them to better life in the future.
The school materials provided are: school uniforms which include skirts and shirts for girls, short trousers and shirts for boys, sweaters, shoes and socks. Other school materials are exercise books, pens and pencils. Nutrition support and medication is also provided to the neediest though in a very minimal amount.
KICOSET runs a program to support the social and psychological development of a number of these children depending on available resources. This involves counseling the children and their guardians, supporting them through providing basic education and in life skills training that enable them to live meaningful lives.
6. ADVOCACY AND NETWORKING
KICOSET views HIV/AIDS as a multi-pronged problem that calls for concerted effort from all sectors of life. Through advocacy at local, national and international levels, KICOSET increases awareness on various HIV/AIDS issues and influences the attitudes of all those in high positions in society.
As a result they contribute positively towards the well being of the infected and affected, and they keep the negative effects of the epidemic, such as stigmatization to a minimum.
KICOSET's advocacy aims at sensitizing people with AIDS and society as a whole to understand the rights and responsibilities of the infected.
This is done through:
• Lobbying;
• Collaboration with especially government structures, developmental and AIDS service NGOs, as well as Community Based Organizations that have similar interests.
• Meetings, seminars, conferences at national and international level.
• Workshops, program exchanges, consultations and provision of technical support.
• Commemoration of Candle light, World AIDS Day and other Important Days.
• Periodic Publications and Media Releases.
• Public relations with policy makers and influential national and community leaders.
• Support to community response and mobilization.
• Mobilization of KICOSET Membership.
• Convening of Annual General Meetings.
7. ACHIEVEMENTS
For one to make a fair assessment of KICOSET's achievements since its existence, its important analyzed KICOSET objectives, Vision and Mission. These achievements should be seen at both Outputs and Outcomes level.
Below are some of the KICOSET achievements based on the above mentioned parameters in the last 6 years:
7.1 At the Organizational level
1. An office in place.
2. Well defined catchments area-Moshi Municipality Longuo “B” to start with.
3. A few staff in place (Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator, Book-keeper, Secretary, Office keeper and Counselor).
4. A few Volunteers in place (6 HBG Volunteers, 6 Peer Educators).
5. Office equipments.
7.2 At Community level
Impact is the achievement desired by the organization. Impact can only be seen and measured after a long time of project implementation. It’s too early to talk of impact created by our programs at this level. We can only talk of the outcomes of our programs since 1st October, 2008 as follows:
1. PLHA’s Support
• 6 Psychosocial group support meetings have been conducted.
• 600 kg of rice and 300 liters of cooking oil have been distributed to 25 PLHA’s from October, 2008 to March, 2009 as nutritional support.
• Bus fare for PLHA’s coming for support group and those coming for counseling have been reimbursed.
• We have registered 152 people, who have attended counseling training from October, 2008 to March, 2009.
2. OVC’s Support
• We have supported 31 school children with school materials which include exercise books, shoes, uniforms and food donations.
• We have supported 6 out of the school children with food support.
3. Peer Education
• Two outreach meetings for Peer education are conducted monthly to different places within the catchments areas aiming at creating awareness on issues related to HIV/AIDS.
8. LESSONS LEARNT
KICOSET has learnt lessons regarding the fight against HIV/AIDS. Some of the lessons include the following;
• Political good will and support is critical to success in HIV/AIDS services. It is therefore important to cultivate and improve this asset.
• The quality of PLHA can be greatly improved even without the ARVs: Integrated and timely management of opportunistic infections coupled with good counseling, nutritional support and a supportive environment care can do wonders. This has been a KICOSET's key approach until other interventions like ARVs became available.
• PLHA’s should be taken as senior partners in the fight against AIDS. They are very knowledgeable about their condition and can best determine what is good for them.
• The biggest worries of PLHA relate to their children. If they get assurance of support to their children a heavy load is lifted off their minds. It is therefore important to provide OVC services as they help both the child and the client.
• Communities are willing to be active participants in the fight against HIV/AIDS. They mainly need to be equipped with the basic skills and a little motivation and they can do a lot for themselves. It is important to involve the communities in the design and implementation of community based projects; this enhances participation and community ownership of the programme and helps them to become AIDS competent.
• A behaviour change evolves over time. There is need for sustained efforts in order to bring about lasting behaviour change.
• HIV/AIDS and Poverty are closely intertwined; it is therefore important to develop strategies that tackle both in order to achieve real success.
• HIV/AIDS work is very stressing; especially so for frontline staff. It is therefore important for organizations to arrange for car.
9. CHALLENGES
1. Organization Sustainability.
2. Lack of enough staff and Volunteers.
3. Increasing number of PLHA’s and OVC’s.
4. Transport for office use.
5. Peer education facilities, music system, loudspeakers, costumes, camera, video projector etc.
6. VCT.
7. Condoms and EIC materials.
10. GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
KICOSET is a membership organization that is governed by a Board of Trustees (BOT), with a Patron, at the very top.
THE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
The KICOSET BOT is a body of Volunteers periodically elected by the General Assembly of members. It provides the policy direction of the whole organization in addition to appointing and supervising the Coordinator.
10.1 The Management Team
KICOSET is headed by Coordinator assisted by Assistant Coordinator, Counselor, Accountant and the Secretary. The team is responsible in identifying needs, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating KICOSET day to day programs.
Planning and organizing resource mobilization activities both locally and internationally for organization sustainability is a non stop task of the management team.
10.2Volunteers
KICOSET has twelve Volunteers, six work as Home based Care Volunteers and the rest as Peer education Volunteers as described in the table below as per their gender perspective.
Volunteers Female Male Total
Home Based Care Volunteers 4 2 6
Peer Education Volunteers 3 3 6
Total 7 5 12
1. ABOUT KICOSET
1.1 Background.
The Kilimanjaro Community Service Trust Fund (KICOSET) was founded in 2003 with an overall objective of actively working on HIV and AIDS prevention and impact mitigation programs in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro region.
In January 2009, KICOSET started on a new strategic Plan (2009 - 2014) that among other things seeks to re-invigorate HIV prevention Strategies within its catchments area through enhanced partnerships.
1.2 Vision:
A Community free from HIV and AIDS
1.3 Mission:
KICOSET exists to contribute to a process of Preventing HIV infection, restoring hope and improving the quality of life of persons, families and communities affected by HIV infection and its impacts in Moshi Municipality.
1.4 At Personal Level:
One-to-one counseling, which empowers the infected/affected person to make informed decisions, which improve the quality of life and facilitate the balance between Rights and Responsibilities:
Sensitive and compassionate care which provides early diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections and enhances living positively and dying with dignity.
1.5 At Family Level:
Counseling for the family members, which dispels their fears of contracting HIV through casual contact, facilitates care of the infected and affected persons and prepares the family for and supports them during bereavement. Facilitation of provision of home nursing care and nutritional materials.
1.6 At Community Level:
Community counseling which empowers the community to organize an appropriate response to the problems generated by HIV. Facilitation of community planned responses, community evaluation of their responses and mobilization of community resources.
1.7 Philosophy:
“Living Positively with HIV/AIDS”
In practical terms, clients are encouraged to:
• Accept their diagnosis
• Seek prompt medical care
• Practice safer sex
• Continue to earn an income
• Plan for the families and dependants
• Seek counseling
• Maintain a balanced diet
• Have adequate sleep and exercise
• Continue with normal social activities
• Avoid harmful habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking
1.8 Objectives:
• To reduce the rate of new infection among the infected and prevent those who are not infected through HIV prevention programs.
• To offer counseling services to people with HIV/AIDS and their Families.
• To train Counselors for KICOSET and to ensure effective provision of counseling.
• To reduce HIV and AIDS burden to the infected and the affected population of Moshi Municipality through HIV and AIDS support programs.
• To sensitize the public and to promote positive attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS and their families.
• To minimize the social ills caused by HIV/AIDS through material support to clients and their families.
• To build collaboration in communication and information exchange with other organization, government, other networks, national and international organization.
• To have resource mobilization strategies for the organization sustainability.
• To enhance research aimed at improving HIV and AIDS service delivery through participation, (Research to inform service).
• To build and support community-based efforts initiated to respond to AIDS epidemic.
2. SERVICE AND PROGRAMS
KICOSET's core business includes Home Based Care and Counseling, Peer Education, OVC’s Support.
3. HOME BASED CARE AND COUNSELING
Where and when necessary, home-based care is provided to bedridden clients. During home visits relatives/home caregivers are provided with information by KICOSET trained community Volunteer nurses or KICOSET staff. The home caregivers have adequate basic knowledge to be able to provide Home Nursing and emergency care.
KICOSET initiated a Home Based Care program with an objective of improving care and support systems at homes of the infected and affected families.
Activities implemented under this program include to:
1. Educate the patient and the family members on how to care physically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually.
2. Insist on adherence to medication and more especially to ARVs.
3. Educate the family practically on how to manage the opportunistic infections.
4. Educate on proper diet keeping in mind the financial status of the family.
5. Insist on how important is to regularly visit clinic for check ups.
6. Give referrals.
7. Provide family counseling.
8. Monitor the day to day health condition of the patients.
9. Collect record.
3.1 COUNSELING
Counseling is the oldest service offered by KICOSET and is the basis upon which the organization was founded.
KICOSET provides psychosocial support in pretest, post test, prevention, and supportive aspects of HIV/AIDS counseling. This service is effective in providing accurate information about HIV/AIDS, STDs, treatment, Family Planning, human rights, appropriate referral Services centers as well as enhancing living positively with HIV/ AIDS. It also promotes prevention of further spread of HIV.
Counseling in KICOSET is accessed by individuals, couples, group counseling to people with common problems, children and family members of index clients.
Counseling takes place at all the KICOSET established service centers, outreach clinics, homes of clients and at hospitals where KICOSET provides support.
Each client in KICOSET is attached to a counselor and there is a lot of mutual trust between the two where principles of different levels of confidentiality are observed. Counseling is always extended to the members of the clients' family in order to promote acceptance of care of people with HIV/AIDS and encouragement to those who may still be in fear of finding out their HIV Sero-status. It also becomes very helpful during bereavement.
KICOSET has a support group of 25 people living with HIV who meet monthly for their psychosocial support group meeting. They are taught about their involvement in HIV work from need identification, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation. HIV and AIDS awareness and ARV adherence.
4. PEER EDUCATION
With six Peer Educators, KICOSET manages to reach the communities in Moshi Municipality. Using their innovative techniques such as attractive songs, drama, poems and traditional dance in information delivery, KICOSET is well known around and it has been attracting a huge crowd of people. There are topics arranged for awareness creation, each of these events go parallel with condom distribution exercise.
Peer Educators demonstrates the proper usage of condoms to youth and elderly people.
5. OVC’s SUPPORT
Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) has been an area of focus towards HIV and AIDS impact mitigation programs where by KICOSET has not lagged behind. With the help of Peer Educators, Home Based Care Providers and sensitization meetings, these children are identified where they are and a visit done for confirmation. After a critical investigation, which includes family members, neighbors, Ward Executive Officers and teachers for in school children, a list of OVC’s with their respective needs is developed.
Currently KICOSET has a list of 223 OVC’s identified in the three wards of Longuo, Rau and Karanga who are in need of support and more especially nutrition and school materials. Among these, KICOSET has been supporting only 30 OVC’s materially from SAT as no other donor in place.
School children are facing school facilities problems and hence drop out of school or stigmatized by others. In supporting them materially, will reduce school drop-out and stigma hence good performance that will prepare them to better life in the future.
The school materials provided are: school uniforms which include skirts and shirts for girls, short trousers and shirts for boys, sweaters, shoes and socks. Other school materials are exercise books, pens and pencils. Nutrition support and medication is also provided to the neediest though in a very minimal amount.
KICOSET runs a program to support the social and psychological development of a number of these children depending on available resources. This involves counseling the children and their guardians, supporting them through providing basic education and in life skills training that enable them to live meaningful lives.
6. ADVOCACY AND NETWORKING
KICOSET views HIV/AIDS as a multi-pronged problem that calls for concerted effort from all sectors of life. Through advocacy at local, national and international levels, KICOSET increases awareness on various HIV/AIDS issues and influences the attitudes of all those in high positions in society.
As a result they contribute positively towards the well being of the infected and affected, and they keep the negative effects of the epidemic, such as stigmatization to a minimum.
KICOSET's advocacy aims at sensitizing people with AIDS and society as a whole to understand the rights and responsibilities of the infected.
This is done through:
• Lobbying;
• Collaboration with especially government structures, developmental and AIDS service NGOs, as well as Community Based Organizations that have similar interests.
• Meetings, seminars, conferences at national and international level.
• Workshops, program exchanges, consultations and provision of technical support.
• Commemoration of Candle light, World AIDS Day and other Important Days.
• Periodic Publications and Media Releases.
• Public relations with policy makers and influential national and community leaders.
• Support to community response and mobilization.
• Mobilization of KICOSET Membership.
• Convening of Annual General Meetings.
7. ACHIEVEMENTS
For one to make a fair assessment of KICOSET's achievements since its existence, its important analyzed KICOSET objectives, Vision and Mission. These achievements should be seen at both Outputs and Outcomes level.
Below are some of the KICOSET achievements based on the above mentioned parameters in the last 6 years:
7.1 At the Organizational level
1. An office in place.
2. Well defined catchments area-Moshi Municipality Longuo “B” to start with.
3. A few staff in place (Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator, Book-keeper, Secretary, Office keeper and Counselor).
4. A few Volunteers in place (6 HBG Volunteers, 6 Peer Educators).
5. Office equipments.
7.2 At Community level
Impact is the achievement desired by the organization. Impact can only be seen and measured after a long time of project implementation. It’s too early to talk of impact created by our programs at this level. We can only talk of the outcomes of our programs since 1st October, 2008 as follows:
1. PLHA’s Support
• 6 Psychosocial group support meetings have been conducted.
• 600 kg of rice and 300 liters of cooking oil have been distributed to 25 PLHA’s from October, 2008 to March, 2009 as nutritional support.
• Bus fare for PLHA’s coming for support group and those coming for counseling have been reimbursed.
• We have registered 152 people, who have attended counseling training from October, 2008 to March, 2009.
2. OVC’s Support
• We have supported 31 school children with school materials which include exercise books, shoes, uniforms and food donations.
• We have supported 6 out of the school children with food support.
3. Peer Education
• Two outreach meetings for Peer education are conducted monthly to different places within the catchments areas aiming at creating awareness on issues related to HIV/AIDS.
8. LESSONS LEARNT
KICOSET has learnt lessons regarding the fight against HIV/AIDS. Some of the lessons include the following;
• Political good will and support is critical to success in HIV/AIDS services. It is therefore important to cultivate and improve this asset.
• The quality of PLHA can be greatly improved even without the ARVs: Integrated and timely management of opportunistic infections coupled with good counseling, nutritional support and a supportive environment care can do wonders. This has been a KICOSET's key approach until other interventions like ARVs became available.
• PLHA’s should be taken as senior partners in the fight against AIDS. They are very knowledgeable about their condition and can best determine what is good for them.
• The biggest worries of PLHA relate to their children. If they get assurance of support to their children a heavy load is lifted off their minds. It is therefore important to provide OVC services as they help both the child and the client.
• Communities are willing to be active participants in the fight against HIV/AIDS. They mainly need to be equipped with the basic skills and a little motivation and they can do a lot for themselves. It is important to involve the communities in the design and implementation of community based projects; this enhances participation and community ownership of the programme and helps them to become AIDS competent.
• A behaviour change evolves over time. There is need for sustained efforts in order to bring about lasting behaviour change.
• HIV/AIDS and Poverty are closely intertwined; it is therefore important to develop strategies that tackle both in order to achieve real success.
• HIV/AIDS work is very stressing; especially so for frontline staff. It is therefore important for organizations to arrange for car.
9. CHALLENGES
1. Organization Sustainability.
2. Lack of enough staff and Volunteers.
3. Increasing number of PLHA’s and OVC’s.
4. Transport for office use.
5. Peer education facilities, music system, loudspeakers, costumes, camera, video projector etc.
6. VCT.
7. Condoms and EIC materials.
10. GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
KICOSET is a membership organization that is governed by a Board of Trustees (BOT), with a Patron, at the very top.
THE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
The KICOSET BOT is a body of Volunteers periodically elected by the General Assembly of members. It provides the policy direction of the whole organization in addition to appointing and supervising the Coordinator.
10.1 The Management Team
KICOSET is headed by Coordinator assisted by Assistant Coordinator, Counselor, Accountant and the Secretary. The team is responsible in identifying needs, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating KICOSET day to day programs.
Planning and organizing resource mobilization activities both locally and internationally for organization sustainability is a non stop task of the management team.
10.2Volunteers
KICOSET has twelve Volunteers, six work as Home based Care Volunteers and the rest as Peer education Volunteers as described in the table below as per their gender perspective.
Volunteers Female Male Total
Home Based Care Volunteers 4 2 6
Peer Education Volunteers 3 3 6
Total 7 5 12
June 22, 2010