2003-4 Malawi - Say No to AIDS



	*Sexual Health Exchange 2003-4* Malawi "Say No to AIDS" clubs in schools In Malawi, with assistance from UNICEF, some 3,000 anti-AIDS clubs have been formed as part of a broad campaign to promote risk-reduction behaviours among young people. These Edzi Toto ("Say no to AIDS") clubs have a maximum of 30 pupils aged 6-18 years and are presented as an extra-curricular activity. Each club is formed after orientation of school head teachers and the training of at least two patrons, who are youthful male and female teachers. The activities themselves are run by an executive committee of club members who undergo training. Overall, about 60% of the members are boys and 40% girls, reflecting differences in school enrolment in Malawi. Club members meet once a week in the afternoon and other pupils, as well as community members living near the school, are welcome to participate in the activities. The club's role is primarily to act as a catalyst by initiating promoting interpersonal communication on sexuality, HIV/AIDS, STIs and reproductive health issues between males and females through debates, group discussions, quizzes, drama, poetry, song and dance. Some club members are open about their positive HIV status and promote awareness about stigma and discrimination. An evaluation conducted by UNICEF in 2000 revealed that the clubs were largely fulfilling their function. Responses to the programme by club members, teachers and parents were positive and encouraging. Several constraints were also identified, such as: vNot all clubs had a trained matron or patron; emphasis was put on training at least one patron per club, rather than on training one male and one female patron per club as originally planned. vMany clubs had few or no materials available (e.g., handbook for the matron/patron, IEC materials for the pupils) nor did they have sports equipment. Several patrons complained that most of the available information materials were out-of-date. vMost of the clubs focused on dissemination of information and too little attention was given to life skills education. The evaluation recommendations were incorporated into the project activities. For instance, to address the lack or shortage of IEC materials, UNICEF supported the development of materials, activity manuals, and Edzi Toto caps, T-shirts and stickers. It further facilitated the distribution of recreational materials, such as footballs, chess games and books. To address the lack of attention to life skills, UNICEF supported the development of skills education, youth exchange visits, youth festivals, peer education training and training of patrons. Also, a leadership and management skills training programme for club executive committee members was introduced to prevent clubs from dissolving when patron-teachers, on whom they heavily relied, were transferred. Gabriel Kamlomo, Media Consultant and Abel Ayazika Nakwagala, Project Officer Community Participation, UNICEF Malawi; P.O. Box 37045, Lilongwe, Malawi; e-mail: anakwagala@unicef.org
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