Total Control of the Epidemic-TCE

By the year 2000 a lot of work had been done to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS. An enormous amount of knowledge had been gathered, projects and activities had been implemented, testing and health centres had been established, but all this effort seemed far too little as the disease continued to spread throughout the world.

It was clear to the international community that the world was facing an international disaster of unprecedented proportion and threat to international security. More than tenfold of resources that had been used to combat HIV/AIDS in the past were needed to continue fighting against the spread of the disease.

Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) program was developed by Humana People to People to fight HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa. Since its start, TCE has reached about 2 million people in 7 countries in Southern Africa, namely Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe and India in Asia. These countries have the highest prevalence of AIDS and HIV in the world. The first TCE program was launched in Bindura, Zimbabwe in 2000 and by end of 2001 there were 14 areas in operation in that area.

TCE is based on the principle that only people can liberate themselves from the epidemic. Every person has to take a stand on how to take control of HIV/AIDS and how to live according to his status. Other people can only support the person or participate in achieving the goal for each individual.

The program is designed to mobilise and bring into action the people themselves, so they can fight against HIV/AIDS and help each other to deal with disease. The TCE program has a systematic approach, where every single person is reached with a face-to-face education through a three-year long campaign. This is done by systematically dividing a country in geographical areas of 100,000 people. In each TCE Area of 100.000 people, 50 locals are recruited and trained as TCE Field Officers. Each TCE Field Officer is allocated a field of 2,000 people, approximately 350 households, and is tasked with the responsibility to reach all 2,000 people with information and education on HIV and AIDS. The idea is to reach every single household and offer information, diagnostic tests, and treatment concerning HIV/AIDS.

TCE program has changed people's lives and it has proved to be an effective way to implement knowledge and change of attitude towards HIV infection. Field Officers themselves have changed their lifestyle and the way of looking at the AIDS epidemic during the whole process of mobilization. Field Officers reach out to people by conducting one on one educational session about the disease. During these sessions they assist people to assess their own situation by discussing when and how they have been at risk and then assist them to make an individual plan for how to be in control. They also assist those who have tested HIV positive to adopt a positive and healthy life style in order to live longer.

Total Control of the Epidemic is more than dissemination of correct HIV/AIDS information. It goes to the core, where each and every individual has to make a personal plan for how to reduce the risk of infection with HIV. It centres on behaviour change. People are mobilized to go for HIV tests, stick to one faithful partner, use condoms, and they are encouraged to inform other people about the AIDS epidemic.

TCE programs are well organised so that they cover everyone in the community. There is a TCE committee in every neighbourhood. Field Officers are trained to counsel and focus on one to one contact. This has helped clear misconceptions and fears about the disease. Through counselling and contact with other TCE activities, people learn that HIV infection is preventable. The communities have acquired a lot of information and are empowered to make informed decisions about their sexual life and can now discuss issues about sex that they would never dare to talk about before. TCE has broken traditional boundaries and norms.

A lot of people become involved and decide to do something to change the HIV/AIDS situation within their families and for those around them. All schools in community have AIDS education and companies have workplace programs. Youths are organised into Clubs where they engage in activities to stop the spread of HIV and support their communities to deal with consequences of AIDS as well as stigma and discrimination around those who are HIV positive. TCE takes the role of informing and referring people to programs like Anti Retroviral Treatment, Prevention of Mother-to-Child-Transmission and Voluntary Counselling and Testing. Condoms are easily available for free or at an affordable price all over the community.

Migrant workers and other people who work living away from home are sought and counselled on how to avoid and prevent themselves from being infected with HIV/AIDS. Sex workers and other community members are organised, trained and helped with alternative options of income generation projects.

TCE has volunteers known as Passionates, because they have passion for people. These volunteers run income generating projects, including nutrition gardens, poultry, soap making, and soya restaurants. With the money they get from these activities, they pay school fees, buy school uniforms, pens and books for children in their community orphaned by AIDS. They also start herbal gardens. The herbs are used to strengthen the immune system and thereby avoid or even treat some of the opportunistic infections.

Health institutions under the TCE program are optimally equipped and organised. Clinics have and skills and stocks of medication to treat sexually transmitted diseases and opportunistic infections. The personnel at the clinics are equipped with knowledge, attitude and readiness to counsel and assist people living with HIV/AIDS.

In Zimbabwe, Humana People to People established TCE Medical Centre. TCE Medical Centre carries out research on the effects of cheap and accessible methods in reducing the effects of the HIV infection, like the combined nutrition additive of selenium, aspirin and multivitamins. The Medical Centre also presents and promotes healthy ways of living with HIV, and indicates precautions that can be taken by people who are infected, like those presented in the booklet "Ten Rules of Survival."

TCE Field Officers educate people about HIV/AIDS on a one-on-one basis.