Peer Educators Training
March 15th
2013: 1 pm, seated in a conference room at the Hotel Central Park in downtown
Nairobi, Carol was all smiles, the recent election of a new Pope Francis at the
Vatican or closer home, having a new President could account for the smile, but
the truth; Carol was eager to receive her certificate for the Peer Educators
(PE) training.
Carol, 28, is
a commercial sex worker in the Nairobi CBD, but there is more to her than just
her trade. Together with a number of sex workers from Nairobi area, she and her
peers have devoted their time and efforts to do something positive not only in
their lives but also that of the societies they hail. This has been made
possible by Kenya Aids Control Project (KACP) through its Sex Workers Outreach Program (SWOP).
Together with
47 other sex workers, Carol attended the five (5) day Peer Educators training
programme held at the Hotel Central Park. The training organized by SWOP involved
an intensive full course on all issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS and STDs and
behavior change. The training was based on a Nation Peer Educators Curriculum
developed by NASCOP as a measure to empower sex workers with the necessary
skills to work among their peers in the community. This was also geared to
equip them with requisite knowledge on the same so that they could effectively
help spearhead the spreading of this vital information to their other
colleagues.
“Through SWOP,
I have received better information on safer sex practices, HIV Testing and
Counseling, care and treatment, condom demonstration and provision, family
planning, STI screening and treatment and many more services. Which have made a
positive impact in my work.” Carol elaborates on the many services SWOP offers them.
Others include TB referral, HTC services at enrollment level; follow up after 3
months and subsequently after every 6months.
The training
was supervised by SWOPs Prevention Officers who used PowerPoint presentations,
role playing and discussions forums so as to achieve optimum results. Mrs.
Grace, a Preventive Officer from SWOP Thika, gave an insight as to the
importance of the training, “We hold this
kind of training twice a year. The main aim being to better equip the peer
educators for the field work and also improve their knowledge on health matters
so that they can transmit the right information when in the field.” She elaborated.
“Congratulations for completing the training….I am
happy for you and happy for the society out there as you are all going to play
an important role towards the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS and other
infectious diseases.” Attested Mrs. Gloria Gakii, SWOP’s Prevention
Manager, during the conclusion of the peer educator’s training.
Signifying Kenyan
Government’s recognition of the PE training, present at the occasion was Mr. Patrick
Mutua a representative from NASCOP. Carol and her peers were then officially handed
certificates amid jovial celebrations from the whole team.
With a piece
of cake on one hand and a certificate on the other hand, the happiness Carol
and the rest of the Peer Educators felt within was reflected by their broad
smiles and excitement. To take upon this positive step, not only for the
betterment of their lives but also that of the broader society, Carol and her
team remind us of the wisdom in one C.S Lewis words; The only people who achieve much are those who
want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable.
Favorable conditions never come.
No comments:
Post a Comment