|
Ease.org Background
|
Ease.org Organization
|
Nov 09, 2001 04:50 PST
|
Ease.org, the background
The HIV epidemic is a new, complex phenomenon in the world today. It gives
challenging accepted ways of understanding health and human development in
our societies and demanding new forms of expertise and holistic responses.
It is raising conceptual, ethical and programmatic issues, many of which
still need to be named and done, all of which need to be raised for
discussion, exploration and action. Tanzania is one of the most affected
countries within the south of the Sahara continent. Mbeya region being the
leading with highest rate of infection and new cases. Women (17 to 42
years), students and children (0-4 years) are most afflicted by HIV
infections.
Empiric Aids and Sorcery Elimination Organization (Ease.org) was
introduced- in 1999 by the University Medical Students (members of Tanzania
Medical Students Association, TAMSA) Coming from Southern Highlands Region
i.e. Mbeya. The programme was mainly concerned with women, children and
students. But now turned to the whole Society. So Ease.org is a Tanzanian
non- governmental organization dedicated to improving the health and quality
of life of all Tanzanians living in Highland areas. Ease.org goal is to
improve access to quality health care services mainly HIV being our first
scope.
Ease.org is also a research-based intervention, which uses the medium of
education, sport in conjunction with an in-service training, workshops and
community awareness days to provide HIV/AIDS education, primarily to
secondary school pupils. The approach allows young people, parents and
teachers to take responsibility for shaping their lives, their environment
and their community and has been extensively used in Mbeya. The programme
reached 27 schools and 15, 600 pupils and 396,009 citizens directly during a
two-year period (1999-2000).
The organization also runs an anti sorcery movements which has been a key
point of poverty and infection of many venereal diseases.
The Ease.org methodology:
-Offers an educational experience that is participatory and learner
centered, rather than teacher centered;
-Allow participants to actively explore problems and develop problem-
solving skills by role-playing various options;
-Actively teaches life skills such as communication and negotiation skills;
-Provides a way of exploring values without imposing them;
-Does not rely on high levels of literacy and makes connections with an
already established oral tradition; is readily moved between communities and
does not require expensive equipment.
-Within schools, a phased approach is adopted which includes:
-Workshops and needs analysis with teachers at the target school;
-Presentation of essays by the winners, followed by a question and answer
session;
-Attitude and skills development incorporating debate classes, role-plays,
playmaking, music and other art forms;
-Empowerment and peer education incorporating an open day for the community
presented at the school.
-Mass education on HIV cases through video show.
-Create awareness among women on family planning and safe sex practice.
Further more Ease.org is dedicated to:
- Developing a positive image of condom use;
- Increasing awareness about the effectiveness of condom use in preventing
the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV, and unwanted
pregnancies.
- Promote safer sexual behavior and distribute a condom designed to appeal
most to those who are poor and to individuals that practice high-risk
behaviors.
OUR MISSION (past experiences and our future)
=CHILDREN:
Preparing the children for the future.
-Education and vocational training
-Children and adolescents sexual development
-Meeting the special needs of HIV infected children
-Support to a family with a sick child
-Promotion of non discrimination policies and programmes
-Reaching Children and adolescents who are vulnerable to HIV
Assistance to street children
-Reducing the susceptibility of young women to infection
-Assisting children whose parents have died
-Minimizing children's psychological and emotional trauma.
-Keeping survivors as integral members of their communities
-Giving them basic material needs i.e. education, clothes and shelters
=STUDENTS:
-Provides a primary and secondary education in schools
-Promote students consciousness on the existence and risks of HIV
-Providing intellectual competition on HIV activities like Essay writing And
winners are given some prizes.
-Provide scholarship to students who have lost their parents
-Provide counseling to infected students.
=WOMEN:
-The organization is gender sensitive fighting with the inferiority complex
of women over males.
-Teaching women their rights on safe sex and family planning system.
=MALES:
To understand that they are the key point over minimizing spread of HIV.
=SPORTS:
Promote talented Youth and children
Making pitches for football, basketball, netball, tennis etc.
=CONSULTATIONS:
Provided to married couples, unmarried couples, students and others, who
are either infected or being at risk of infection.
Links: Ease.org works closely with Tanzania Medical Students Association
(TAMSA) that includes the University Medical students,one of the first
founders of this organization.
Administration: Ease.org is led by a Board of Directors and executive
committee composed of professionals involved in AIDS prevention, health care
delivery, education and training, medical research and community
development; students and farmers. So it has 17 directors; of which 9 are
fulltime workers and 8 are part time workers who are employed after every
beginning of financial phase. Ease.org also has 43 volunteers who are being
paid US$ 2.50 daily
Funding: Ease.org received support from international corporations and
foundations.
CAUTION: Ease.org will never be answerable or responsible for any type of
unofficial contact made to any one not listed below. Neither for any type of
money draft not addressed to the Bank Account shown here under:
Ease.org Bank Account:
National Bank of Commerce Limited,
Muhimbili Branch,
Account No 6801009952,
Dar es salaam,
Tanzania-East Africa.
OFFICIAL MAILING ADDRESSES:
1.Dr.Issakwisa Ozzane Mwakyula
International Coordinator
Ease.org
The Faculty of Medicine
Muhimbili University College
P.O. BOX 65007
Dar es salaam
Tanzania.
E-mail: issak-@excite.com
2.Ms.Esther Mwakibete
Secretary General
Ease.org HQs.
P.O. BOX 1483
Mbeya
Tanzania
E-mail: ease-@excite.com
_______________________________________________________
Send a cool gift with your E-Card
http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/
|
|
 |
|
