Rwanda Experiences, Strategies and approaches to SAVE lives

1
By Ignace SINGIRANKABO Rwanda Interfaith Network
(RCLS) Country Coordinator
Rwanda Experiences, Strategies and approaches to
SAVE lives
2
Background
In March 2008, RCLS in collaboration with
Christian Aid organised a one day workshop on the
role of the top religious leaders in fighting
HIVAIDS and defeating SSDDIM using SAVE
approach, more than 130 tested for HIV during the
event, it was recommended that SAVE should be
promoted and used in Rwanda
3
Main achievements ()

• Adapted SAVE materials in Kinyarwanda and
  adopted the KIZA approach

4
SAVE IN KINYARWANDA KIZA
5
Main achievements ()
Produced the KIZA/SAVE Training manual in
Kinyarwanda with 7 main lessons

• General knowledge on HIVAIDS
• SSDDIM
• Safe Practices
• Access to treatment and nutrition
• Voluntary, routine and stigma free counseling and
  testing
• Empowerment
• How can holy scriptures help address HIVAIDS
  related SSDDIM

6
Main achievements ()

• Designed a two-year project Rescue Rwanda
  from HIVAIDS SAVE Project
• Trained 66 religious leaders
• from the Catholic Church,
• Anglican, Protestants,
• Evangelical and the Muslim

7
HIV and AIDS awareness raising, mobilization for
VCT, stigma and discrimination.

• 66 religious leaders were trained as trainers on
  anti-SSDDIM and SAVE approach.
• Trained trainers already trained 150 peer
  educators including Imams, Pastors, Priests and
  Sisters
• 500 religious leaders and 150 local opinion
  leaders targeted as agents of change received
  intensive training on the fighting HIV and AIDS,
  SSDDIM using the SAVE approach. They organize and
  supervise home based care activities.

8
Main achievements (...)

• 10700 peer groups were sensitised on SAVE by peer
  educators
• 79,147 communities members were reached by HIV
  and AIDS and anti-SSDDIM campaigns
• 24,376 people out of 77,863 reached by HIV and
  stigma campaigns (31) were tested for HIV.
  Testimonies show that people reached by HIV and
  stigma messages changed their behaviors and
  attitudes.

9
HIV and AIDS awareness raising, mobilization for
VCT, stigma and discrimination.
10
Main achievements ()

• SAVE Multi-country evaluation by Christian AID

Rwanda took part in the multi-country SAVe
evaluation conducted by Ms Katie Chalcraft, SAVE
Research assistant
11
Improved livelihoods for PLWHA and affected
people

• AGRICULTURE SUPPORT 830 households out of 1482
  affected households targeted (56) were trained
  in agriculture and livestock techniques and
  supported in the sector. Irish potatoes project
  and kitchen improved living conditions of PLWHA
  and affected people.

12
Improved livelihoods for PLWHA and affected
people
13
Improved livelihoods for PLWHA and affected
people

• 436 goats in 362 households out of 1482
  vulnerable and affected households targeted by
  the HIV programme (24).
• 18 cows were given to our vulnerable households
  milk, oil and manure
• Beekeeping project support to 142 HIV positive
  and affected. Honey, residues of honey help HIV
  positive and affected people to recover from
  different diseases including skin disease.
• 1,332 rabbits were distributed

14
Improved livelihood ()
Empowered community member including OVCs, widows
and PLWHA through life skills, and IGAs
15
Policy and partnership

• Acceptability by the Government Officials
• Ongoing process to develop the National Strategic
  Plan and Faith Sector Strategic Plan that will
  mainly focus on anti-SSDDIM and pro-SAVE approach
• Advocacy to the Rwandan Government Official
  including the First Lady, the National AIDS
  Control Commission, the Ministry of Health.

16
Policy and partnership (...)

• Integrate HIV, Malaria, TB and non communicable
  diseases.
• Increased collaboration with partner
  organisations, stakeholders, local authorities
  and decentralised joint action forums to promote
  and multiply SAVE messages.

17
Initiated partnerships with key international
stakeholders including the UK Conservative Party,
the Center for Interfaith action on Global
Poverty and diseases (CIFA), the UN special envoy
on Malaria, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation,
Exxon Mobil
Initiated and expanded external partnership
18
Opportunities

• The acceptability and appreciation of the SAVE
  approach in Rwanda. One of the examples that can
  show the acceptability of the SAVE is that the
  SAVE TOT training has been selected by the
  national AIDS Control Commission as one of the
  twelve best practices in the country in 2008 and
  was published in the NACC (CNLS) 2009 calendar.

19
OPPORTUNITIES ()

• Track record of SAVE approach in Rwanda
• SAVE approach was strongly embraced by political,
  technical authorities and religious leaders.
• There is a great demand of expansion of the SAVE
  approach expressed by religious leaders and
  religious communities,
• Willingness of partners and beneficiaries to
  promote and multiply SAVE
• Religious partners are a big opportunity with
  high profile and influence in general (i)
  credibility, (ii) transparency, (iii) strongly
  embedded in the community, (iv) possibility to
  succeed local mobilization of funds, and to (v)
  increase advocacy and communication at local,
  national and international level.

20
MAJOR CHALLENGES

• Limited technical and material support to adapt
  SAVE to the Rwandan context and disseminate it.
• Integration of SAVE to the National Strategic
  Plan of HIV sector and its official adoption by
  the Policy Makers.

21
WAY FORWARD

• Multiply and widely disseminate SAVE materials in
  Kinyarwanda, train more peer educators and
  increase community mobilization
• Continue to support and empower religious leaders
  living with or personally affected by HIVAIDS to
  promote anti SSDDIM and multiply SAVE as a
  congregational response.
• Increase visibility, communication and advocacy
  around SAVE

22
THANK YOU SO MUCH MAY GOD BLESS YOU