Our work aims for an immediate impact on people affected by HIV/AIDS, by reducing stigma and discrimination and by providing adequate services, support and care. We aim for a long- term impact on society by empowering communities and individuals, to be their own agents of change.
AAA’s work is based on three major programs:
An average of 10,000 people including scholarship recipients, women members of AFAC (Association des Femmes Membres des CVECAs (Caisse Villageoise d’Epargne et de Crédit Autogérée)), school health clubs and children in orphanages participate in various workshops during Orphan’s End of Year Event, Youth Week and the Day of the African Child. Our training is based on the AAA Preventive Health Plan, including hand washing, potable water, the hanging and washing insecticide-treated bed nets, the importance of vaccinations, and of a clean environment.
_“In Africa … less than 1% of the general adult population is aware of their HIV status” Prof. Francois-Xavier Mbopi-Keou.
As the knowledge of one’s HIV status is vital in the fight against AIDS, AAA is working in local communities to promote and organize free and voluntary AIDS screening. Last year AAA with the support of USAID AWAREII, 1,678 men and women were tested across 16 CVECAs. The following villages participated in the screening Abem, Bogso, Eboma, Nkolkose, Ngalla, Nlobole, Mengang, Koum, Ndibi, Zalom, Leka, Nkolngok, Nsan, Nkolebassimbi, Fang Biloun and Obala. 5% of those tested were HIV positive.
In partnership with the Association Camerounaise pour le Marketing Social (ACMS), part of the AAA’s JUST KNOW campaign focuses on:
In 2005 AAA launched a campaign for clean water, clean hands and clean latrines across more than 20 rural schools, orphanages, institutions for vulnerable children (blind and handicapped) and village networks (CVECAs) in Cameroon to stop the cycle of diseases that travel from the intestinal tract to the hands and the mouth. AAA continues to work in this network which now has over 500,000 participants .
AAA works to prevent HIV infection, but we also want to reduce the risk of opportunistic diseases that threaten the lives of those infected with HIV/AIDS. AAA has introduced multiple innovations to fight diseases caused by polluted water and unsanitary conditions.
PREVENTIVE HEALTH PLAN:
1- Description of Sanitation problems of our local area with photos
Many deaths, mostly of children in Cameroon are due to diarrhea, cholera and water borne diseases. The most effective intervention to prevent diarrhea is good latrines, hand washing, quality of water. AAA’s objective through its Preventive Health Plan, is to address above mentioned issues in rural communities of Cameroon where adequate water and sanitation are extremely difficult to find. SEE WATER PROBLEMS ON PICTURES BELOW
Toilets,generally out in the woods exposing the whole community to flies,odors,infections. NO PRIVACY EITHER!
Different steps in making hand washing a systematic act againt infections and part of education in Schools with AAA’s tools
AAA’s effort to adress the above sanitation problems mentioned below
Toilet building coming up
Shool Children enjoying new toilet girl friendly with hand washing station
AAA started a vaccination program for all girls under our scholarship in Cameroon in 2007. In 2011, we launched vaccinations for members of CVECAs and have been able to vaccinate 400 people to date.
Every year AAA distributes 10,000 de-worming pills to orphanages, rural schools, members of CVECAs & their families, to our scholarship recipients and to institutions for vulnerable children like the blind including the CJARC (Club des Jeunes Aveugles réhabilités du Cameroun)- School for the blinds.
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Portable Hand-Washing Stations:
Since 2008, when the African Organization of Intellectual Property gave its approval to AAA innovation of hand washing and drinking stations as tools for public health, we have distributed more than 6000 Portable Drinking and Hand-Washing Stations mostly in rural schools and health centres. These stations are a simple solution to a serious problem. Every dollar helps us to install another station in a community center or school.
We distribute treated bed nets to children and women in villages and schools where we partner. Since 2007 we have distributed more than 15,000 treated bed nets to families in the network.
The scholarship program as part of the Women’s Economic Autonomy, enables each girl to complete at least a secondary, university or technical education.
For children in the scholarship program, AAA works directly with each school to ensure that funds allocated are used as intended. AAA also provides each child with all required school supplies and uniforms as well as insecticide-treated bed nets. Each child undergoes a medical check-up and is vaccinated. We maintain a relationship with the child and the care provider. Since 2007 AAA has focused its scholarship programs on girls orphanedbyHIV/AIDS.
In Partnership with the Batonga Foundation, AAA is helping to provide secondary and university education scholarships for 25 girls orphaned by HIV/AIDS. This dynamic group of young women aged between 14 and 22 years old, have lost either both parents or the primary income generator.
Since 2007, 10 of the girls receiving scholarships have graduated from secondary school and 3 have graduated from university.
Aissatou is an AAA scholarship recipient. She was born on 29th August 1991 in Yaoundé, although her parents are originally from Ngaoundere, North Cameroon. She lost her father just before she finished primary education. She was about to be given to marriage according to the tradition when she received an AAA scholarship. She completed and passed the Baccalaureate in 2010 and is now studying in a nursing school. During her time as an AAA scholarship recipient, she was trained as an AIDS Peer Educator. She also completed a special computer course. During her vacations, she joins AAA health campaigns with young orphans. Today, Aissatou is a beautiful young woman who is also a great team leader.
