2019: Moshi Health Youth CAB summary of reports

The Youth CAB began 2009 with the Facilitation of Melkizedik Uriyo where the topic was “Stigma”. He helped them to understand that there are two types of stigma.  There is self-stigma, where the person believes that they will be shamed or mistreated because of their problem (in this case primarily from HIV) or because they are being stigmatized by others (shamed or mistreated) because of their problem.

The group discussed the differences and also how feeling stigma can change the way a person behaves.  (isolation, inability to concentrate in school, depression or “acting out”, bad behavior, maybe steeling, doing drugs or alcohol, even self mutilation). They discussed the ways to protect against stigma, and also how they as a group could help others either feel less stigma or through education to friends, their churches, or schools.  But, they all agreed that this problem is difficult. Because of their age, they cannot confront a teacher who is stigmatizing another student due to their handicap or illness such as HIV, nor can they confront a pastor or Sunday School teacher.  So, they talked about difficulties at the same time as talking about ways of overcoming stigma.

Other facilitators, Prisca Dominic, Gwamaka William, Emanueli Msuya, Arnold Temu, Emanuel Titus, and Neema Materu helped to lead discussions that ranged from HIV and STD prevention, Mother to child transmission, new protocols that are including HIV & TB, or multi-drug resistant TB and transmission within the family. Other topics included possible formation of relationships with other organizations such as Rotary, and learning about entrepreneurship. Each topic has been taken seriously and the group finds that they run out of time for discussion.  The topic of relationship building was continued over several meetings because there was such enthusiasm about it.  The facilitator Emanuel Titus reported that it was very difficult for the group to talk about a relationship between a “boyfriend and a girlfriend” even when he tried to steer the conversation in that direction. He said that he felt that perhaps the group was uncomfortable with this topic because the group is mixed with boys and girls; however, he noted that the group brought up masturbation as a topic and even if there was a person was more likely to develop prostate cancer if they had HIV!  He reported that it was not really culturally easy to talk about sex, about your own issues or desires, though the group could talk about what other adults did or said.

Significant things that the group accomplished this year were a second successful year presenting information at the Socio-behavioral Forum, a meeting designed for people to present the results (or preliminary results) of studies with which they had been involved.

The Youth CAB had been called on to present a community perspective on issues pertaining to drugs and alcohol available in Moshi, and in 2018 on Gender based violence, the why’s and the possible solutions.  Their presentation was met with many questions and with many comments.  It was the only community based presentation at the meeting. The group was also working on a video about Stigma, will finish the project by Christmas time!

Of course, as always, the Youth CAB joined the KCMC Health Project CAB in the Kilimanjaro marathon and enjoyed the camaraderie that always comes out of walking 5K or running 26K with 5-10,000 of your best friends. 

The final special project for the Youth CAB this year is a challenge from Family Health International, to design something that defines the group in some way by a deadline of December 1st, World AIDS Day.  The group will be furiously meeting to meet the deadline. 

The group agreed during the past two months that they would like to spend one hour on Health Issues, and one hour on possible entrepreneurship projects that they might complete.  Because of this plan to look at entrepreneurship, at the 2nd November meeting, a speaker from a successful group presented an outline of how to build a successful business.  What are the tools that are involved, what are small businesses that take little space, how can you do small businesses and live across a wide geographical space of Moshi and outside, etc.  The group voted to have more of these expert speakers. 

The year has been exciting.  Two “Rotoractors” from the Rotary KCMC volunteered their time to the group.  This new addition has helped to focus the group as they have health concerns, and also to feel a small part of the Rotary Club Moshi. 

Finally, the KCMC Health Project and their “Big” CAB recognize the Moshi Health Youth Community Advisory Board as being invaluable.  The Moshi Health Youth CAB participates in outreach, asks important questions about research, gives feedback about research and studies, and shares their experiences in school and at home that can help the KCMC Health Project to move forward in a positive way.