adminThubelihle Mabhena Chronicle Reporter
A TOTAL of 105 people from different churches in Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland South province disclosed their HIV status to their pastors in 2014, the Christian Aids Taskforce (CAT) has revealed.
The organisation’s chairperson, Angel Netha told congregants at the CAT annual general meeting in Bulawayo yesterday that church organisations had been providing essential moral support for people with HIV for decades.
She said CAT’s mission is to improve the livelihood of the church and the community by enhancing support to those infected or affected by HIV and Aids.
The organisation also facilitates mentorship programmes that encourage communities to practise self-help skills like handicraft, agriculture and sewing.
“CAT managed to reach 355 people in Mzingwane District in Matabeleland South province where pastors trained 763 people in Aids awareness programmes in their churches,” said Netha.
“We initiated Aids awareness programmes in 2014 and 105 people disclosed their HIV status to their pastors while 10 people disclosed publicly.”
She said a total of 58 people tested for HIV during CAT workshops.
Netha said self sustenance projects initiated by CAT had also started paying off.
“We saw the first fruits of savings groups projects, complete building projects, buy furniture and other household goods projects, where groups were able to save from as little as $138 to as much as $5,320,” she said.
Mzingwane District Councillor, Shumirai Nkiwane said CAT had fostered unity among the people in her ward.
She said a shared vision in projects had become a catalyst in the development of the community.
Clr Nkiwane said people in her ward were not united and had for years failed to build a cottage for nurses in their area.
“There was only one nurse at Nhlangano Clinic and when she knocked off there was no one to assist patients. As a community, through CAT assistance, we managed to build a five roomed cottage for nurses,” she said.
Junior Natsanga said in 2006 her CD4 count was very low and she felt so ashamed to disclose her status to the community but CAT managed to change the mindset of members in her church.
“I thank CAT for mentoring my church to accept my status and not stigmatise me. Today my church has paid for my travel costs to Kenya. I make and sell jewellery,” said Natsanga.
She said she is taking antiretroviral drugs and her CD4 count has increased from 198 to 868.
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