Ntlafatso

HIV Aids Anti-stigma Attitude Campaign
By Relebohile Lefojane

I am a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) health Advocate. As a health advocate, it is my role and responsibility to create awareness of diseases to promote a healthier Africa. Moreover, it is my right as a citizen of the earth to enhance people's well being. I am where I am today because someone took their resources and invested in me, so I want to keep the chain going.

Hometown - Upper Moyeni in Quthing District, Lesotho

Introduction
Ntlafatso Foundation is a Youth Volunteer Initiative, which envisions a healthier Africa starting first at the community level. On the 24th February 2018, it launched its very first HIV/AIDS ANTI-Stigma ATTITUDE campaign which aims to reduce the HIV stigma among the youth. When HIV/AIDS stigma is reduced, more people will test for HIV.

Lesotho holds the second highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in the world, and Quthing where the campaign is launched ranks third highest District when it comes to HIV prevalence in the country. True there is already other initiatives aiming to combat this gigantic pandemic, but together we can do more hence move towards an HIV free generation.

The HIV/AIDS stigma poses the following problems in our community, both to the infected and the affected: I.    Some people associate HIV with cultural beliefs such as witchcraft II.    Fear of testing for HIV III.    People dying IV.    Child-headed homes increase (orphanism) V.    Poor academic performance due to mental stress VI.    Poverty persists, as breadwinners die VII.    HIV virus spreads rapidly VIII.    Mother to child transmission of HIV

Objectives

1. Do outreaches that raise awareness of HIV and educate people about the stigma at schools and the community
2. Partner with other associations to test and counsel the participants
3. Empower people living with HIV with professional training and education so that they become advocates
4. Encourage the people with HIV to form peer education programmes in their communities which cater to the mental, spiritual and emotional needs of people. For example, empower them with communication skills, problem-solving and conflict resolution, life skills, and self-esteem
5. Challenge them to create employment for themselves Evaluation Our expected outcome is to have more people test for HIV. The HIV positive people should avoid spreading the disease, and the HIV negative people should remain HIV negative.  Ntlafatso foundation aims to assess its progress by use of data science.

Evaluation
Our expected outcome is to have more people test for HIV. The HIV positive people should avoid spreading the disease, and the HIV negative people should remain HIV negative.  Ntlafatso foundation aims to assess its progress by use of data science.