Making an impact: the case of SKOWA, Zambia

Since 2004, the Alliance has been providing a comprehensive package of organisational, technical, and financial support to the Street Kids, Orphans and Widows Association (SKOWA), an organisation set up in 1998 by a group of women concerned by the high HIV prevalence, poverty, inadequate health facilities, and the growing number of widows and orphans in Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia. SKOWA has been expanding the range and reach of its work, having a tangible impact in the community.

SKOWA now has a presence in 16 catchment areas spread across the district and has gone on to support groups most vulnerable to HIV such as young people, single parents, and female sex workers and their clients (specifically long distance truck drivers and their co-workers). Many of the common, curable sexually transmitted infections facilitate the spread of HIV, and SKOWA has made the prevention and effective treatment of sexually transmitted infections a high priority.

SKOWA aims to reduce high-risk behaviour through behavioural change communication, peer education, the promotion of condoms, voluntary counselling and testing services, and by providing and improving care for sexually transmitted infections. While the bulk of the activities and interventions are concentrated in rural areas, activities such as behaviour change communication have an urban focus.

Support and training

  • Currently, SKOWA cares for 1,471 orphans, aged between 4 and 18. Of these, a smaller number are also provided with uniforms, school fees, and educational equipment to enable them to attend school.
  • SKOWA also supports 692 women widowed by HIV and AIDS, 113 commercial sex workers, and 59 people living with HIV. Supplementary nutrition is provided for patients on antiretroviral treatment.
  • A total of 155 people (50 commercial sex workers, 40 fishermen, 50 widows, 10 truck drivers and 10 locomotive drivers) were trained in behaviour change communication to equip them with skills in planning and implementing behaviour change activities. These people are now involved in outreach work, facilitating discussions in their local communities and amongst peers about HIV prevention and other issues such as sexual health, and sexually transmitted infections.
  • Members of the Chisamba women’s group, including those both with and without HIV, and single and widowed women, received skills training and are now earning income from rearing traditional chickens and goats, which have been popular among local people. The group not only increases integration among HIV-positive and HIV-negative women, but also helps women widowed by HIV regain their confidence and thereby increase their ability to earn an income to support their children.

Impact

SKOWA’s work has had a notable impact on the community. Chisamba women now routinely talk about HIV and AIDS, and the overall level of correct knowledge has improved. The self esteem of sex workers and widows has risen, along with their status in the community. Widows who were previously viewed as laughing stock have been trained as community educators and have continued to spread health messages about voluntary counselling and testing and HIV prevention amongst their peers, creating an environment for potential behaviour change.

Mervis Moyo, a member of the Chisamba women’s group, reported that the training offered by SKOWA enlightened her so much that she decided to go for voluntary counselling and testing as a first step in sensitising other community members.

SKOWA’s training of 20 voluntary counselling and testing promoters and behaviour change communicators has contributed to the creation of demand for services at the local hospital. Between January and June 2006, 289 clients were referred for voluntary counselling and testing. Of these, 43 clients are now receiving antiretrovirals.

Furthermore, increasing numbers of people living with HIV are now disclosing their personal details such as HIV status, safer sex practices and openly sharing issues affecting them:

“SKOWA has helped me to accept my status and live positively with the virus. I know that I will only die when my time comes,” said Miriam Chanda, after participating in a behavioural change course organized by SKOWA.

During the period January to June 2006, SKOWA also distributed over 15,400 condoms:

“When we use a condom I feel safer and I am not so worried about catching diseases or getting pregnant,” said Felistus Mwape, a former commercial sex worker, now engaged to be married.

Projects like SKOWA are making a significant contribution to the prevention and control of the pandemic. They have been changing people’s attitudes – not just towards HIV and those living with it, but also in encouraging safer sexual behaviour.