AFR611 (SIDA Contribution No. 21500161)

Program Title: Strengthening universal access to HIV and Social Protection services to prevent and mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa by 2015

SUCCESS STORY/CASE STUDY

Implementation of this project has managed to change the attitude of key decision markers, religious leaders and all target districts, NGOs, and FBOs from Villages/Mtaa, Wards, District and Regional levels in response to improved service delivery to vulnerable groups and the inclusion of their issues into their plans and budget.

For years of its inception MOREPEO identified HIV/AIDS as a challenge   which   gives   older   people a burden   of caring PLWHA and grand/great grandchildren   orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Badly enough even   the Tanzania   National HIV/AIDS policy is unfriend to OP of 60 years and above.

This problem is a very serious situation because it affects the wellbeing /health rights of all older people. In this case, there is a need for the government and its stakeholders to make sure that this problem is solved.

Mzee Mohamed   Selemani Yusuf 72 years old a beneficiary of   165,000/= and a second loan of  112,500/- standing in his Kiosk. when asked to comment for the said problem had the following to say about:-

“My name is Mohamed Selemani Yusuf, aged 72 years old. I have been at Rudewa in Kilosa district council for all my life (about 62 years). I am married   with 5children (F-3 and M-2),10 grand children ( F- 4and M-5 and 3great grandchildren (F2,M1). 8 children live in D`salaam, 8 of my grand children (2 girls and 6 boys) stay with me . I am very sad that I lost my 3 daughters and 1 son   because of HIV/AIDS for the past six years ago. Since 2012 to date, MOREPEO in collaboration with HelpAge International and in collaboration with the Kilosa district Council conducted several sensitization and engagement meetings in order to influence to influence the inclusion of older people in their district plans and budgets. The meetings involved health workers, key decision, district TASAF coordinator, policy makers, department heads and older people representatives. I am among the OP representatives who attended all the meetings . Not at all I was Identified   by the OPF leadership to attend a three day Entrepreneurship   training ,after the training I was given Loan as an IGA input of Tshs 165,000/= to establish my small business. In 2014 I was also given 112,500/= to scale- up my project.

For the past years health services in the government health facilities was very poor. older people had to pay for medical services. But after the sensitization meetings conducted to the key health workers, the situation has changed. Now all health facilities owned by the government are providing free medication to all older people of 60 years and above and we are now attending VCT for   our health tests. They have set aside special rooms to attend older people. They do not use abusive language as they were doing before.

With all achievements, still there are challenges

• No professional/trained doctor Mostly for Older people.
• Shortage of drugs in all government facilities. In steady we are required to buy medicine in the pharmacy shops. I remember one month ago one of our older people died of diarrhea because the hospital could not provide him the required drugs.” It pains.”

In older to solve those challenges, MOREPEO influenced the district council to pay us  CHF premium in order for us and our dependants to benefit free medication.

“I got a loan of Tshs. 165,000/= which I used to improve my Kiosk business. I managed to pay it back. I am very thankful for the scale-up loan of Tshs. 112,500 given to me now to enable me do better than ever before” Thank our almighty God that, before I was identified through OPFs and OPMGs/OCMs, my life was worse I could not manage to have even two meals a day. I and my dependants were surviving by having a cup of porridge each per day. ‘’That was my life’’. The community isolated us because of our poverty, but now my life has changed,I have many friends who are coming for financial support. I and my dependants are having three balanced meals a day, I am now paying school fees for my grandchildren , my financial situation is improving as I have many customers in the village who are coming to buy goods at my KIOSK. I have come to realize that , every big businesses we see around   the world started with little amount of money as I have started Kiosk business.’’

“ I am very thankful to   MOREPEO my village OPFs   members, village, ward and the Kilosa district council   for the effort they are doing to strengthen universal access to HIV and Social Protection services, to prevent and mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS and poverty in our locality ,district, region and at national level’’.