Comment

Comment by CAROL NJERI NDUNGU on February 27, 2010 at 7:17am

Hi Team
Sorry i have been away but am back.

Comment by Rituu B. Nanda on February 17, 2010 at 6:14pm

Hi Onesmus and Carol,

Thanks for your response to my query. In the SALT visit, what was the composition of the facilitation team? Was the PLHIV lady you mentioned a part of the facilitation team? How has inclusion of members from different population groups made a difference?

Asante sana.

Warm regards,

Rituu

Comment by CAROL NJERI NDUNGU on February 16, 2010 at 7:53am

Morning all
The Kenyan team had their salt visit on Friday.A general comment about it is that it was so educative and alot of sharing took place.It was really intresting in my perspective to see truck drivers challenging each other and i thought that the community was now becoming life competent..Stories and other experiences came up.Our colleague Petronilla will be reporting on what happened.We are looking forward to the video conferencing between the the 2 countries.
Regards
Carol

Comment by Marlou on February 16, 2010 at 7:36am

Dear Onesmus,
Wow, thanks for capturing the story so well. And many thanks to the Kenya team for facilitating a conversation where people are so inspired to share and go on with new learnings and inspiration.
Onesmus, please post the story as a blog as well, so that many more members in our Ning Group can appreciate it.

Marlou

Comment by Onesmus Mutuku on February 15, 2010 at 3:28pm

Dear Rituu,

The lady was referring to - the event she participated in (Community conversation) at the truck stop. I think , it makes sense to say, she appreciated what she went through and as the PLHAS network, they see the strength and opportunity for a shared yet mutual learning process happening over time.and where they will continue to participate through authentic presence. - Synergistic effect.

Regards,

Onesmus

Comment by Rituu B. Nanda on February 15, 2010 at 2:48pm

Dear Onesmus,

Greetings from Delhi!

Congratulations to you and the Kenyan team on the successful SALT visit. Thanks for this powerful sharing. Can't wait for the full report:-)

Please can you elaborate on this- We can really help many truckers – A lady from the PLHAs Network at ATHI RIVER.

Warm regards,

Rituu

Comment by Onesmus Mutuku on February 15, 2010 at 11:45am

Dear Friends,

We really had a SALTY visit on Friday,
Here is a reflection from Peter, who has been in the Long transport sector for over 15 years now

A big vision to being a Truck Driver

'' I joined the long transport work as an assistant to the driver (Turn-boy). I was introduced by one driver who came from my home village. When i joined, i noted there were several Drivers from my neighborhood villages. I was excited to pursue the transport career. I had a big vision, one to become a Driver too.

My Job and My deep Health concerns to Truckers.

It was really a challenging experience for you spent many days away from home. When you seek permission from your employer to visit your family, you most likely to lose your job or part of your small salary is chopped off. The being away from home was putting most of the Long distance truck drivers to a great risk. You would find majority of the drivers had many sex partners along the transport corridor. I began to realize that it was really harming many of the truckers. For instance, back in my home village, all the drivers those that i had found in the long transport sector had died of AIDs including the driver who introduced me to Long transport work. It was a big shock to me, I recall. I used to drink heavily; i tried assessing how the drinking was predisposing to getting infected of HIV and i surely learned how the tune ends in a nasty way. You spent a lot on drinking, on women to the extent of forgetting your own family at home. i surely dropped drinking since then.

The turning point and my offer for influencing change.

Today, i have not forsaken my colleagues including those who drink beer. I accompany them in the bar, when they order beer, i order for myself a Soda. I stay with them till they get drunk. Majority of them, when drunk, would now want to get a woman for the night. This really disturbed me. I kept asking myself on how to best engaged with them on the issue of AIDs and self protection. It was not clear to me for a couple of months until then i got a solution to my concern. I decided to be reminding them of some women known to them along the transport corridor whose health was deteriorating. Sometimes i could even use trickstars without referring to someone.

The change we can see!

I have seen this really help for when i help them reflect on the incidences. It really changes their intention to go with a woman that night. It even opens ups an in-depth talk on how to protect themselves from HIV infections. They get so encouraged and motivated too and ask me to show where they can be tested for HIV.. I conclude by saying, when you have gone through all these experiences and one day you pause to reflect on your own life, encounters including challenges. You are deeply humbled. I got tested for HIV, i couldn’t believe my eyes, i was happy and i had to run and get my Partners who also tested for HIV too.

What communities said during the Visit?

I am deeply humbled to be part of this conversation for i know how meaningful it is to our truckers. When we leave here, we will share with our friends on what we learnt and encourage them to come-Peter Mwangi (Trucker)


We are happy for the team being available here at Mlolongo to facilitate the learning and sharing. We wish if this could be happening to every truck stop. We can really help many truckers – A lady from the PLHAs Network at ATHI RIVER.

We hope this conversation is NOT the end but the start of a big process that will awaken our community in the transport sector. We will encourage them to come, visit and test for many are asking on where to get testing including where to get the ARVs – Gideon Trucker.

I got tested and after knowing my status, i ran back home to get my wife for a test too. I was really excited for i to a U turn on many things that i took for granted related to my life. Above all the issue of many sexual friends along the transport corridor.- Gideon Trucker

Plus more reflections.
**********************************************************************************
Petronila (NEPHAK) is compiling the Comprehensive report.

Warm wishes and look forward to hear from our India Friends

Onesmus

Comment by Marlou on February 8, 2010 at 4:25pm

Bonjour all,
Friends in Kenya: how did the SALT visit go?
And friends in India: ready to set a date too ?
I hope we can soon have the Video SALT meeting between the two countries taking place?

Marlou

Comment by CAROL NJERI NDUNGU on February 3, 2010 at 4:59pm

Our plan for the salt visit is still on.

Comment by Marlou on February 1, 2010 at 11:20am

Great, wishing Kenya wonderful SALT experience.
Marlou

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