KCTT - People with AIDS Living Squad (PALS)
HIV/AIDS Information, Education & Communication for Kabwe
Kabwe, Zambia
Background
The PALS Outreach Program of Kara Counselling Training and Trust (KCTT) has been fighting HIV/AIDS and other human rights related issues in Zambia since 1991. The PALS have always remained open about their HIV status regardless of the pain and humiliation that this often causes.
The KCTT Centre remains the longest running safe haven for people living with HIV/AIDS in Zambia. PALS has been key in contributing to the growth and success of KCTT, the Network of Zambian People Living with HIV/AIDS, the Network of African People Living with
"The knowledge and human resources are there: organizations of People Living With AIDS, the inspired youth peer counselors, the political leadership, the religious leadership, the activist women's groups, the community-based and faith-based organizations. There is overwhelming sophistication and strength on this continent. What's missing are the tools and support to do the job. Provide those to Africa and we can break the back of this pandemic." Stephen Lewis |
HIV/AIDS, as well as providing valuable consulting expertise to United Nations Agencies such as WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS and the World Bank, etc. This has been largely possible because PALS' members are public about their HIV status. This has also enabled PALS to be visible and have an impact in thousands of workplaces, health centres, schools, colleges and the community in general.
The Project
The project is situated in Kabwe, Zambia. The Stephen Lewis Foundation provided funding to:
- contribute towards existing care and prevention activities in Kabwe.
- contribute to the elimination of stigma and the increase of HIV/AIDS awareness in institutional settings.
- ensure production of and access to critical information about the disease.
- train peer educators to help the spread of accurate information on HIV/AIDS.
The Kara Counselling PALS program will also:
- hold monthly 'Treatment Access Forums' for the general public.
- collect, photocopy and widely distribute information materials about HIV/AIDS.
- institute outreach/sensitization programs with the military, air force and police force.
SLF Ref#: PALS.03.08