By Parfaite Ntahuba | National Coordinator
December 1 will be Giving Tuesday and GlobalGiving will be awarding bonuses on that day. We ask you to remember to donation to the Friends Women's Association on that day. Thanks.
COVID-19 AND NTASEKA CLINIC
In the month October 2020, Friends Women’s Association has continued to apply Covid-19 restrictions at Ntaseka Clinic for both the staff and the beneficiaries’ protection. Because of the support from AGLI of the Friends Peace Teams, GlobalGiving and the American Friends Service Committee, we currently still have disinfectants in our stock and fabric masks.
ACTIVITIES
Caring for HIV Positive People (CHIVPP)
In the month of October 2020, medical follow up and home visits were done for our HIV positive people.
A Ntaseka clinic beneficiary, Benita, was referred to Gitega regional hospital. She is now back from Gitega regional hospital.
My name is Benita. I got to know Ntaseka Clinic thanks to a friend who frequents it. It was difficult for her to convince me, but it was when the care providers from this center came to visit my friend that we met. These providers told me about HIV testing. I was afraid that another misfortune would be added to my lot, and I did not agree to do so. These were not discouraged. They came back to see me and I finally accepted. The knowledge of my serological status plunged me into total despair. The perseverance, the patience and the compassion of the Ntaseka medical staff convinced me to start the ARV treatment. At the beginning, it was difficult but a confidence was established between us little by little and I told them about my problem. Indeed, at the age of 13, my mother died. I was in 8th grade. Our stepmother mistreated us, and I had to leave school. When I was 15, I got pregnant and the child's father took me to his family here in Burundi. His family welcomed me especially my mother-in-law. Unfortunately the child's father was imprisoned.
My delivery followed, which was complicated by a fistula. Shortly after, my mother-in-law went abroad. My sisters-in-law's misunderstanding and their kidnapping of my child made my situation worse. They even chased me out of their home. I had to prostitute myself to survive, which was not good for my fistula. The appearance of edema of the limbs and face followed. The leaks got worse. I felt like I was slowly dying and didn't know what to do. I was living dead. The observation of my case with my history alarmed the doctors of Ntaseka clinic who examined me. All the staff was alarmed for me and looked for a specialized center for my care. They came to pick me up at home, washed my whole body in Ntaseka bathroom; they even bought a new fabric for me because I did not have any clothes to present myself in front of the doctors at the hospital. They transported me with their vehicle; they totally took care of me. I thank the Ntaseka Clinic very much for taking care of me and helping me get treatment.
I was brought back to life. Ntaseka is my new family. Now I'm fine even though the fistula has not been repaired. I'm waiting for the arrival of a specialist and I keep hope that things will get better and better. I hope to return home to Rwanda after my recovery.
Maternity Ward Building
In the month of October 2020, with the support of the African Great Lakes Initiative (AGLI) of the Friends Peace Teams, Friends Women Association (FWA) has continued closing the maternity ward with metallic doors and windows. The next step is building septic tanks.
Improving Women’s Reproductive Health (IWRH)
FWA community health workers and FWA staff have continued to educate men, women and young people on the importance of family planning.
Rape Survivors’ Support (RSS)
Two three-day trauma healing workshops were done on October 27-30, 2020 and November 2nd-4th, 2020. At the end of September 2020, we had a total of 106 Self-Help Groups for a total of 2463 women.
My name is Francine. I am an orphan. I did not see my mother or my father. My life has been living from one family to another, sometimes a family kicked me out.
I was very intelligent at school but because I had a lot of problem, I got into a relationship with a man who made me pregnant. I was kicked out of the house where I lived and I got married illegally to this man at least to find where I can live.
In the second month of my pregnancy I knew that my husband has a wife and 3 children. I, who did not know what to do, stayed with this man but with guilt in my heart because I hurt another woman.
My husband did not accept me to work any job to earn my own money. I gave birth to the second child and then he left me for his first wife.
There is something that is still hurting me until now:
o To leave me with two children; it is difficult to find another husband as I’m a mother of two.
o Leave me with debts in the self-help group; he forced me to ask a loan on my name which I could not repay
International Day of Rural Women.
On October 15th, 2020 FWA joined the world to celebrate the international day of rural women. The celebration was done into main parts: Visiting FWA new rented field where we will grow rice for this second season and food sharing (Rice we harvested on the first season and cassava leaves)
ACTION ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV)
In the month of October 2020, FWA met with Nyabiraba local authorities to prepare a public event during the 16 days campaign of activism against GBV.
MEDICAL TEAM CONSULTATIONS
Our medical doctors consulted with 81 cases, including 54 adults (24 men and 30 women), 12 children (9 boys and 3 girls), 10 HIV positive people and 5 pregnant women for ultrasound. The nurse received 192 patients including 148 adults and 44 children.
LABORATORY
In October 2020, apart from HIV voluntary testing, there were a total of 202 tests. See attached chart.
FAMILY PLANNING
429 people received contraceptives from FWA’s nurse, including 278 old cases and 151 new ones. 323 received the contraceptive injection, 54 were given pills, 43 received male condoms, and 9 received implants.
PRENATAL CONSULTATION (PNC)
In the month of October 2020, 31 women came for prenatal consultation (PNC), including 8 who came for PNC 1, 15 for PNC 2 and 7 for PNC 3 and 1 for PNC 4.
24 pregnant women came for the ultrasound test.
ANTI-RETROVIRAL SITE
At the end of October 2020, we had 330 patients under retro drugs followed at NTASEKA clinic, including 267 women and 63 men.
PHARMACY
Regarding medications, FWA was able to purchase the minimum needed medicine.
PSYCHOSOCIAL TEAM
In the month of October 2020, a total of 34 people received pre and post HIV test counselling and were tested for HIV. Out of the total number, 82% were women and out of the three people detected HIV positive, two were women, with 9% of seropositivity.
Total Number of People Tested: 34
Total Number of Women Tested: 28
% of People Tested Who Are Women: 82%
Average Age: 28
Median Age: 28
Total HIV+ : 3
Total HIV- : 31
Number of Women HIV+ : 2
Total % Seropositivity: 9%
% of Women Tested Who Are HIV+: 7%
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