THE KAWU PROJECT 2014

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The long awaited KAWU Project finally came to lime light on the 20th of December, 2014. Though resources were scarce and limited, all IIMGC contributed in no little measure to the success of the visit.

At precisely 5.20 am on Saturday morning about 15 IIMGC members who had volunteered to be part of the visit, all gathered at the meeting venue at IIMGC’s workshop in Garki. All items already packed before then were loaded into two vehicles. A little stop over at Jabi where we got additional items. The journey started some few minutes on 7.00am.

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THE ROAD TO THE COMMUNITY

The road to KAWU was calculated between 8-9 hours drive due to deteriorated, eroded and damaged road as seen as we struggled through the journey. The road to KAWU community should be listed among the “most dangerous roads” in Nigeria.  We had a stopover at BWARI to swap to a vehicle fit for the road to Kawu; a Hilux SUV Truck. Smaller vehicles cannot run Kawu road.  There are special trucks that run Kawu road, though scarce, these trucks are responsible for conveying people and or commodities but sadly IIMGC does not have them yet although funds are being sought for that purpose so IIMGC could help ease the poverty of Kawu people.

We met with a village leader/representative; by all standards he seemed to be a local politician.  He worked with us, by assisting to introduce our program to the beneficiaries.  Though he seemed difficult at the initial stage, he later became a very useful tool to us due to our well trained volunteers who were able to adapt.

 

After a long series of bargaining and counter negotiation, we eventually commenced on the journey to Kawu village. Although funds were low we had made our research and budgets that will be sufficient for the project, using the swot analysis. As we proceed about five of our members had to, at a point, return home for safety reasons; Mary John, Appolonia Amos, Chioma Jovita, Star Onuzurike, Ester Anthony were among the volunteers returned.

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We drove through GABA Village, which is nearest KAGORO Village then DINAKO Village which led through IGU village afterwards we came out to SHERE Village Junction. As we proceed to the road that led to PANUNUKE village, after which we entered DUBA 1 Village before DUBA 2 Village before we proceeded to RINGI Village YAUWAZING Village. The village is situated at the border region of Kaduna State and Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We crossed beside of an ancient bridge that appeared risky although a new one has been constructed. The deadly ancient bridge was said to have taken many lives according our driver.  The driver told us a lot about the villages as we journeyed.  From left and right; there were countless dilapidated buildings, and a building that had its roof ripped off and half of its wall torn apart was supposedly said to be the Community Health Centres; such a sad sight.  As we journeyed we noticed some tanks and boreholes without water, transformers without electricity.  There were also the presence on some churches like the Anglican, Baptist and Catholic churches. 

 

Due to lack of access roads, often times, we had to enter into Kaduna and out again because the Community we were visiting is a part of FCT.  We passed through all villages where they have the SHERE junction.  All you see along is empty and dry dangerous routes.  Herds and herdsmen virtually taking over the road.  These herdsmen too had to migrate in search for greener pastures.

 

THE KAWU PEOPLE

The KAWU people are peaceful and easy going with lots of history and rich culture. They are predominantly farmers who specialise on yam and cassava farming. They don’t benefit from the harvest as they have no means of preserving or transporting products for sale.  However, the locals are vulnerable to poverty related challenges which limits their ability to attain an appreciable or full potential.

After a rousing welcome by the community leader and members, we were led in prayers by the community chief.  A health talk was given on values of nutrition by the IIMGC health team.  The people were later grouped; pregnant women, aged, children, youths and men.

The stage was set with our apparatus well laid.  The leader of the health team gave a speech addressing the people of Kawu community on the need to allow IIMGC to perform its tasks especially on HIV Counselling (HC). The project was a tremendous success as well over 8 Communities were covered.

THE FOLLOWING WERE CONDUCTED DURING THE PROGRAM AT KAWU VILLAGE:

HIV COUNSELLING (HC)

Those who were counselled where advised go to health centres closest to them and apply for Anti-viral (retroviral) drugs as we do not have the Anti-viral (retroviral), appropriate equipment and laboratory for testing.

OUR PREVENTION CAMPAIGN

1.         Use of hand gloves

2.         Hand sanitizers after any procedure

3.         Avoid contact with fluids (saliva, blood etc) from an infected person

4.         Avoid handling of sharp object used by infected person

5.         Avoid pre-marital sex

6.         Avoid unsafe sex

6.         Use protection such as male and female condoms

7.         Total abstinence

8.         Good nutrition

SOME OF THE HEALTH KITS USED AND PRIZES

ITEMS                                     AMOUNT             QUANTITY

First Aid Box                             N 4,800                        2

Nutritional Packs for Kids         N 4,800                       30

Weighing Machine                     N 5,000                      10

Surgical Glove                N 2,500                       20

All that could be done was taking the pulse reading, weigh taking and a few drugs administered like analgesics, vitamin C etc.  Other serious ailments like Hepatitis, Stroke, Polio could not be treated as our means was limited as aforementioned.

Clothing items, shoes, bags, soaps. Books, biscuits, beverages were distributed accordingly.  The food items (rice, beans, oil etc were given to the village to distribute them all).

What IIMGC did was like a drop in the ocean.  The basic means of sustenance like portable drinking water, health facility etc could not be met.  More intervention to be done. 

Do you wish to help? Please help the KAWU community as they are completely cut off from the society.  No roads, no schools, no water, no health facility, no food and no future. 

 

Thank you and God bless you.

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Report prepared by - SAIDU B. YEMI.

Overseen by the Director of Projects M. Tsoho Abdullahi

For IIMGC Projects

10th January 2015

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CONDOM AND OTHER PREVENTION CAMPAIGN TRAINING FOLLOWING KAWU' s VILLAGE VISIT

 

• An individual must be reached with 3 minimum intervention package of Peer education, sexually transmitted infections (STI) screening, Condom demonstration and distribution before being counted. However, HIV counseling and testing (HCT) and treatment of established STI cases are other added services

• All Peer Educators (Pes) must do the STI screening assessment questioning for every peer reached

• Count an individual reached with 3 intervention only once in this COP year

• Count sex workers reached in a brothel only once.

•  Encourage sex workers to reach out to their clients and count

• However, continue to provide the services mentioned above to this person but don’t count the person again; count only the new people reached.

• Each individual is entitled to 12 condoms monthly unless otherwise

• Always cross check double counting by encouraging Peer Educators (PEs) to map out areas each person will cover, particularly in the Parks

• Mark out condom outlets clearly

• All custodians of  the condom outlets must know how to do the condom demonstration properly (Penal model must be made available)

• Check all forms returned by the PEs before entering data and double check to see if there are issues.

• Advocacy to the community gatekeepers should be on- going

• Monthly reports to get to relevant authorities latest

• Condom utilization report to be sent monthly

• Make a list of all STI cases and place patients on treatment once the drugs are supplied.