From Kisumu, Jennie and I were driven by the dynamic Madame Soti, who began Dev Link Mbita, our next port of call. Mrs Soti's husband is a medical doctor and she set up Development Knowledge Link to reach into the community of Mbita, her home town, with a clear message about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and to educate people on the rights of women and children.
Mbita is a small town on the shores of Lake Victoria, reached by a one hour ferry journey across the Lake, during which time Jennie and I looked around anxiously for hippos and crocodiles. To our great relief, we saw none.
Upon arrival at the Dev Link Office, we were welcomed by Walton, a twenty-two year old field worker, wearing a T Shirt which read 'Men working against gender-based violence.' Walton explained that the area had a 79% illiteracy rate and a culture in which men regularly beat their wives just to show them who is the boss. Children are sent fishing at the Lake where they can earn money for the family, rather than go to school. Fishing is fairly lucrative and prostitution is common amongst women trying to make ends meet. Polygamy is practised, as is the practice of inheriting widows - where a widow is given in marriage to the brother of her husband. HIV and AIDS is prevalent here ('official' statistics state 27% of the population are HIV positive) and without education and an attempt to change the culture, there is nothing to stop it increasing. Many of those working in the organisation have lost both parents and are supporting their siblings through school.
Dev Link has funding from the Centre for Disease Control (a US programme) to recruit and educate peer workers and health facilitators from the community so that they can work to educate those around them.
On Thursday 4 August, Jennie and I spent a long day with Jerry, a community organiser and Jacob, the accountant, interviewing potential health facilitators for training. After interviewing 28 candidates, we selected those suitable for further training, the next stage of the recruitment programme. The organisation is aiming to train 32 health facilitators in all. Jennie tested candidates on their ability to talk to young people about sexual health, while I attempted to find out what action they would take if they heard that a man in the community was abusing his family. Only a small number stated that they would refer the matter to the police, more were inclined to involve the chief of the local tribe but some, unfortunately, simply said they would ask the man politely to stop. This demonstrates the uphill task faced by women and children to gain recognition of their basic human rights in this society.
Rosalind Camp
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