The healthier lifestyle magazine for Africans
Issue 2 – Spring 2009
Beauty with a purpose Interview with Miss Zambia UK
Positive Living ALSO
The best of African cuisine
Image courtesy of Hans Will
Stressed out? Try relaxation and meditation
Interview with the jazz legend
Hugh Masekela PLUS
Win a Sony Ericsson W580i
UK EXCLUSIVE
Dear Reader, Doing the rounds for World AIDS Day last December, I couldn’t help but notice the enthusiasm with which campaigners, healthcare professionals and people from the African community were pushing the sexual health message. Any worries I might have had about a possible loss of interest in this annual event were quickly and effectively laid to rest. To the African community at least, HIV remains just as important and relevant a health issue today as it was 15 years ago, when too many people were dying of AIDS. It is this enthusiasm that we need to sustain, as we re-dedicate ourselves to the work to raise awareness of not just the disease but also the various services available to people who are affected. Keeping AIDS high on the public agenda is everybody’s responsibility. It is a responsibility Hugh Masekela, the musical genius, has signed up to. Masekela was in London recently, and I had the privilege to interview him about his high profile campaign to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS not just in his native South Africa but also elsewhere in the continent and the Diaspora (see inside pages). Also in this issue are useful tips on how to manage stress, as well as information about sexual health and young people, the role of the church in health promotion, and of course, there is a mobile phone to be won by one lucky reader!
From May onwards, you will be able to view Mambo online. Please log on to www.mambo.org.uk
Free health promotion skills training
This is an accredited course for people who want a career in the sexual health sector or are looking to update their health promotion skills. For more information please email ikenna.obianwa@tht.org.uk, or visit www.mambo.org.uk
Issue 2 - Spring 2009 Mambo editorial team Daisy Byaruhanga Charles Kyazze Winnie Sseruma Elias Phiri Mary Lima Toju Cline-Cole Fola Rogers-Saliu John Owuor Marc Thompson Kate Muwoki Joseph Ochieng African communities mass media programme advisory group Dr Charles Mazhude Dr Edwin Mapara Maurice Cunningham Winnie Seruma Cheikh Traore Daisy Byaruhanga Anna Aguma Kate Muwoki Charles Kyazze Marie Tameze Asher Emetananjo MAMBO magazine is published as part of the Pan-London mass media programme aimed at promoting awareness of sexual health among Africans. The programme is being delivered by Terrence Higgins Trust in partnership with the following African organisations: Neovenator Community Organisation
Joseph Ochieng Editor
Mambo Online
The healthier lifestyle magazine for Africans
Organisational development training
A free service that helps African organisations to build their capacity and management skills. For more information, please email: samuel.cunningham@tht.org.uk or visit www.mambo.org.uk
Young Leaders
Terrence Higgins Trust’s Young Leaders Project has money to give away to young people so they can design and deliver their own sex and relationships education projects. The funding is available from May 1st 2009. For more information please go to www.tht.org.uk/youknowyou
The African Eye Trust Addington Afro Ethnic Health Promotion Group (AAEGRO) Bantu Welfare Trust Future Builders Information in this magazine is correct at the time of going to press. For the latest information or updated version of this publication, visit www. mambo.org.uk Funded by the Pan-London HIV Prevention Programme © Terrence Higgins Trust, April 2009. Code: 952 Registered office: 314-320 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP. Terrence Higgins Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales (reg. no. 288527) and in Scotland (SC039986). Company reg.no. 1778149. A company limited by guarantee.
Mambo Spring 2009
The African church is the fastest growing religious movement in the UK. At a time when Africans face greater risk from infections such as HIV, gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia, should religious leaders be doing more to promote sexual health awareness among members of their congregation? Reverend Munasimenda Kanyama of MUNKAN Christian Ministries shares his thoughts on the subject.
“Educating our members about sexual health, and promoting access to services should be every church leaders’ responsibility.”
About MUNKAM Christian Ministries MUNKAN Christian Ministries is a selfsupporting faith group delivering Christian missions through a programme that combines music, evangelism, public health education and response to people in crisis.
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When good health complements spiritual wellbeing As people who preach the word of God, we have to accept that the 21st Century is posing more challenges for the world’s populations than did past eras. We have problems of global warming, the effects of globalisation (the inter-linking of trade, social and political relations), poverty, atheism, disease-outbreaks and natural disasters. What all this suggests is that it is time to change the way we preach the word of God. Our preaching needs to reflect everyday issues that affect people wherever they are. We know, from reading government reports and witnessing with our own eyes, that HIV/AIDS is a serious health problem in the UK African community. We have lost sisters, brothers, parents, sons and daughters to the disease. Many of those living with the infection are church-goers. They, too, are God’s people. How can a Christian parent be a source of joy to the children if he or she is unwell and in physical and mental pain? How can a child bring out the shine in a parent’s eyes if it is down with a chronic illness? That is why, at MUNKAN, we have decided to take up the sexual health message. This is a new and challenging role, and one that not every church leader is comfortable with, but we have realised that African people who attend church are not getting enough messages about sexual health. This is despite churches being in an ideal position to help promote awareness of sexual health and HIV: we have considerable influence over the congregation, and our words are always respected.
Some church leaders take the view that faith alone can deal with any disease, including a serious one such as HIV/AIDS. But God helps those who help themselves! I believe that a combination of prayers and appropriate medical care works best, and that people with the infection should be encouraged to seek both. Also, members of church congregations should be encouraged to take measures to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections. This, we can do by telling them to delay sexual activity, if they are not in a relationship; for those who cannot delay sex, we can advise them to use the condom. In our ministry, we encourage open discussions about condom use; we also facilitate, mainly through referrals, access to other sexual services such as HIV testing, counselling and mentoring. We believe that the condom is currently the best method for cutting the risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection. Educating members about sexual health and promoting access to services should be every religious leader’s responsibility. In the Bible, we read about Jesus’ work, which restored good health to lepers, the sick, the blind – He even brought the dead back to life (Lazarus). Good health is essential for a complete spiritual welfare, and I’m urging all religious leaders to make health promotion a part of their pastoral duty.
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Mambo Spring 2009
THE
VOX-POP
Esther Sampson As a founder of an African church, I would say religious leaders need to start giving members of their congregation the tools for protecting their health. That there are so many sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancies suggests we have not been doing this.
Figures from the Health Protection Agency show more and more UK-based Africans getting infected with HIV. This suggests many people are having casual sex without the use of condoms. With African church congregations growing at the fastest rate, Mambo asked readers whether they think religious leaders should be doing more to promote condom use in the community they serve. Below is a selection of their answers:
Tlotlo Pearl Bolaane
Janet Bake
We have to acknowledge that churches do play a role in promoting sexual health, only that much of their work is done in a different way. I’m aware that some churches, for example the Catholic Church, do not promote contraceptives, but I think in this era of HIV/AIDS, they really should start telling people to use the condom. Maybe they should target older people – those aged 30 and over.
I think many churches have different views on the subject. As a member of the Catholic Church, I think religious leaders need to change their attitude to sex education. The Vatican needs to look into ways of reviewing its stand on condom use, and priests should promote its use among people who are not in a stable and long-term relationship.
Ismail Babalola Religious leaders need to start viewing the condom as a something that protects health, and not something that promotes sex. However, as a Muslim, I would like to add that more would be achieved if religious leaders promoted condom use only among married couples, mainly as a birth control method. For young or unmarried people, encouraging abstinence is the best approach.
Joe Ukemenam My personal view is that church leaders need to take a common sense approach to sexual health and start promoting condom use as a health prevention method.
Juliet Reid Certainly faith leaders need to give responsible guidance on this issue. There is no doubt that the condom protects against sexually transmitted infections, so I’d say members of the congregation should be made aware of the advantages.
Have you got a health or lifestyle issue that you feel strongly about? Why not share your views with other Mambo readers? Email your name and contact details to joseph.ochieng@tht.org.uk Sentiments expressed in ‘Your Shout’ columns do not necessarily reflect the views and/or policies of Terrence Higgins Trust or its partners.
Mambo Spring 2009
The best of African cuisine
Uncle Charles Many Africans in the UK face health, social or relationship problems that can make life difficult. Charles Kyazze has a vast experience of health promotion work with African communities. In this column, he explains to a reader the meaning of a cultural ritual and its impact on sexual health.
Dear Uncle Charles
The other day I came across a Ugandan newspaper report about a woman who was caught sitting on top of a smoking pot of honey as she waited to have sex with a married cabinet minister. When I asked about the ritual, a friend explained that it was a fairly common practice in certain parts of Uganda and Sudan. Apparently, the women believe that by sitting on top of a pot of burning honey or incense, they will make sex more enjoyable for their male partner. I am amazed that this sort of thing could be going on. Aren’t there any sexual risks involved, and do you know whether it is practised by some Africans who live in the UK? Alex, SE London
Dear Alex, The practice you have described above is common among sections of the African community in the UK, and is an example of cultural practices that were brought over from Africa. Sitting on a smoking pot is common in countries such as Mali, Nigeria, Liberia, Gambia and Gabon. In East Africa it is common among the Somali, Sudanese and Ugandans. Among the Ugandans it is mainly practised by people from the western region, where the pot is known as orukomya or misho ana, meaning ‘four eyed’ because the pot has four holes that look like eyes. The orukoya is one of the items that are given to the bride-to-be during the traditional ‘introduction’ ceremony.
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The content of the pot varies from community to community. In Somalia and Sudan it is mostly a mix of different herbs, or herbs and incense. In other communities, it is a mix of honey and herbs. In Central Uganda, where the practice is spreading among young women, they add akafuga nkande, an herb previously used on its own to bathe the female sexual organ in order to increase sexual pleasure. In order fully to understand the significance of the smoking pot, one needs to understand the gender imbalance between African men and women, a situation that forces some women to look for ways of pleasing their male partner. They believe they will increase their sexual attractiveness by using beauty products such as bead belts (obutiti) and scented body creams. Like many traditional sexual rituals, the smoking pot comes with health risks. Some of these risks are similar to the ones associated with other sexual practices such as dry sex, ‘Western Jazz’ (akakyabali) or ‘wet sex’, or inserting herbs, saw dust, or sand into the vagina in order to create friction. These practices are in most cases unhygienic and can cause bruises which increase the risk of a sexually transmitted infection being passed on. Many African women would not, on their own, want to sit on a smoking pot, but they do it out of fear of violence or rejection by the male partner. This is something a couple can talk about so they can decide whether sex cannot be equally enjoyable without having to go through the ritual.
Uncle Charles can help you to find a solution to your problem. Please write to him at: MAMBO magazine, Terrence Higgins Trust 314-320 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP. Your letter should state the nature of the problem, your name and the area you live in.
Maize meal Also variously known as mielie pap (South Africa), sadza (Zimbabwe), shima (Zambia) or ugali (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania), the maize meal is a staple food in most regions of Africa. It is the perfect accompaniment to the spinach dish and a rich source of proteins, fibre and starch.
Ingredients White, finely ground maize Scoop of margarine (optional)
Method: Bring about 4 cups of water to the boil, then add about three cups of white, finely ground maize meal to the boiling water, stirring constantly to ensure a rich smooth mix.
Some people prefer to add a scoop of margarine at this stage, but it will taste equally nice without. Continue cooking for about seven minutes. The mix will become thicker as you cook. Make sure you do not burn the bottom of the pot; you can avoid this by constantly stirring the mix. Scoop out onto a plate and serve with the spinach.
Spinach Spinach is a popular green leafy vegetable that is rich in nutrients and minerals.
Ingredients Frozen or fresh chopped spinach One medium chopped onion 2 tablespoons of cooking oil A pinch of salt S mooth peanut (groundnut) butter
Method Heat the vegetable oil for about 1 minute. Add the chopped onions and cook for 2 minutes. Next, add the fresh chopped spinach (for frozen spinach, cook until it is fully defrosted, and then bring to boil). Add the peanut butter, and then add hot water. Stir until you have a smooth texture. (Please note that peanut paste falls under the category of ‘nuts’, to which some people may be allergic)
Recipe courtesy of Exceline Catering Services 175 Mare Street, London E8 3RH. Tel: 020 8525 9222.
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Mambo Spring 2009
What it means to be
African, Christian
gay
Stephane Djedje is a gay Christian living in London. He has appeared on the BBC programme ‘Inside Out’, and his is one of hundreds of stories that are rarely told. At a time when gay men still face rejection from many black communities, he speaks candidly to Mambo about his experiences among Evangelical Christians. MAMBO: When did you first
realise you were gay?
Stephane: I knew that I was gay when I was about five. As I was growing up in Cote-d’Ivoire, I started to question my sexuality. There wasn’t a lot of freedom in the country, then. There still isn’t. Homosexuality exists, but it is being held back. Because I was involved with the church, I knew it was going to be difficult for my family and fellow church members to accept my being gay. MAMBO: Did you tell anyone about
your sexuality, back then?
Stephane: I told a few friends and some people from my church that I thought I might be gay. I was afraid they would reject me. Thank God, they did not. However, my immediate family had difficulty accepting it, at first. My biggest worry was my mum. I did not want her to reject me or feel bad about my sexuality. MAMBO: Were things easier for
you when you moved to England? Stephane: I came to England to improve my language skills and to study. Yes, I did find attitudes here a bit more relaxed. There was more tolerance. But living with my aunt, there wasn’t a lot of freedom! She noticed I was going out a lot and coming home late. She soon found out I was gay and her attitude towards me changed.
I had to choose between living with her and being myself. I decided to move out. MAMBO: How was life on your own?
Stephane: It was quite difficult. I had never been by myself before. After completing my three-year study of English, I began a degree course in a theological college. Combining studies and surviving was tough at first, but I was determined to push through. MAMBO: At the college, how did
people react to your being gay?
Stephane: The lecturers’ views about homosexuality were very traditional. One lecturer told students that homosexuality began when “a straight man didn’t want to have sex with his wife.” Their ideas were very institutionalised, and that really upset me. To them, homosexuality was a sin, an act without love. I was disappointed that such educated people could hold such a view. I did not expect them to agree with homosexuality, but at least I expected them to be a little bit more understanding. MAMBO: What happened after
you appeared on TV?
Stephane: The BBC programme ‘Inside Out’ was about being a gay man in the Black and religious community. Most of my classmates and teachers saw the programme.
Two weeks before my exams I was called into the principal’s office and forced to make a difficult choice. The principal had heard about the TV programme. He asked me what my position was on homosexuality. When I told him I was gay, he asked me to leave the college. Just like that. “You’re gay; homosexuality is wrong, when you’re ready to change, get back to us,” he said. MAMBO: Why do you think it
was hard for them to accept your sexuality?
Stephane: Personally, I think it’s a culture thing; it’s old beliefs and there’s little you can do about it. People said: “You can’t support homosexuality if you are Christian.” I was very upset. I believe you have to learn what the homosexual person is for yourself. Not what you’re told. I tried to make them understand that being gay isn’t just what they hear or see on TV. MAMBO: What was your reaction
to the expulsion?
Stephane: I felt lost, but then luckily, I was able to enrol in another college. Officials at the new college did not mind that I was gay. Although I didn’t tell everybody about my sexuality, I felt happier and free there. I settled down into my bible studies and was able to get a better understanding of my sexuality.
MAMBO: Was it difficult for you
to reconcile your sexuality with your faith?
Stephane: It was difficult at first. I had no support but I wasn’t expecting any! You have to keep your own self-esteem high, otherwise you can get confused. You start asking questions like ‘did I do the right thing? Should I stop being who I am?’ Of course, it was tough, and once or twice, it made me question my faith. The thing is, if you don’t have a good understanding of the Bible, you will have difficulty accepting both Christianity and homosexuality in your life. MAMBO: What lessons have
your experiences taught you? Stephane: I think I’m a lot wiser, now. I’m a stronger person and I have more self-confidence. I don’t want to change who I am. I believe God made me complete as a person, so why should I need to change my sexuality for the sake of other people? I’m now looking forward to supporting other people who, like me, are both Christian and gay. If you are gay, or not sure about your sexuality and need help and support, please contact the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard on 020 7837 7324, or call THT Direct on 0845 1221200.
Mambo Spring 2009
5
is good for your health By Steve Adair
Everyone experiences stress. Whether it is everyday hassles, such as being stuck in traffic, missing the tube, work deadlines, or pain or traumatic experiences, stress plays a part in everyone’s lives. Often, as we go about our day-to-day schedules, we miss out on having ‘down-time’ for ourselves and fall into bed exhausted, only to start all over again the following day. Our chosen lifestyle can reveal a great deal about us. How much exercise we do, whether we eat a healthy balanced diet, smoke or drink, or how much relaxation and personal time we have will also have an effect on our immune system.
The main function of our immune system is to recognise foreign substances and prevent them from doing us harm. Stress can have an effect on the immune system, and research shows that reducing stress will help us to approach difficult situations in a calmer manner. Some of the ways you can reduce stress is by talking through your problems with someone you trust; other methods include eating a healthy balanced diet that contains fruit and vegetables, exercising more, drinking a minimum of eight glasses of water every day, and taking breaks during your daily work schedule. Even putting your favourite music on and dancing as if no one is watching you will have a positive affect on you, as it relaxes your body and moves your mind onto clearer thinking.
Deep breathing is also a stressbuster that has several benefits for the body, including increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood, which ‘stimulates’ the brain, relaxes the muscles and quietens the mind. Breathing exercises are especially helpful because you can do them anywhere, and they work quickly.
Try these exercises for 5 minutes for a week and feel the benefits. If possible try doing them at the same time every day:
• Sit comfortably where you will not be disturbed ay attention to your breathing – is it fast or slow, • Pdeep or shallow? breathe deeply and imagine your belly is a • Now balloon filled with air and add the word ‘calm’ to
your in breath (hold this breath for the count of five)
out, saying quietly to yourself ‘relax’ • N (toowthebreathe count of five) and feel your belly and your body relax
ry placing your hands just above your navel • Tand feel the rise and fall of your breath as you breathe in ‘calm’ and breath out ‘relax.’
If you want more information about relaxation and meditation, please visit: www.hse.gov.uk/stress www.mind.org.uk www.samaritans.org www.britishmeditationsociety.com www.namlife.org
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Mambo Spring 2009
he day we start giving our women “ Tmore respect is the day the real campaign to control the spread of HIV/AIDS will begin.
“
Image courtesy of Dan Brady
Mambo MamboMarch Spring2009 2009
MAMBO: What made you decide to
join the campaign against HIV/AIDS?
He has a worldwide fan base, and is widely acknowledged as the grand-master of African jazz. Now, Grammy Award winner Hugh Masekela is adding his voice to the campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and other social issues in his native South Africa and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, he was in London at the invitation of international volunteer agency VSO, where he performed to a packed Royal Albert Hall audience made up of people from different ethnic backgrounds. While in London, he granted just one press interview – to Mambo. Editor Joseph Ochieng asked the questions.
Hugh: Up and down the African continent, the disease is causing a lot of pain to individuals and whole communities. Personally, I have been affected: My youngest daughter died of AIDS. I’m just doing my bit to keep the problem in the public agenda. I believe, however, that the real message about HIV has to come from the top – from our political leaders. Unfortunately, our leaders are not doing as much as they could be. Which is a pity, as many of them have also been affected. MAMBO: Why are they not
doing enough?
Hugh: I think many of them do not give AIDS the priority it deserves. Some fear that if they highlight the problem, tourists will stop visiting their country. But, what is more important – tourist dollars or the health of the people? There are some leaders who, instead of behaving responsibly and showing a good example to the young people who look up to them, go on to do the very things that increase risk to themselves and to other people. And then there are other leaders – including those who have been personally affected - who cannot bring themselves to talk about AIDS because of the fear of stigma. MAMBO: How can Africans tackle
the issue of stigma?
Hugh: Tackling stigma should be the work of everybody – politicians, health workers, teachers, people living with HIV – everybody. People need to stop thinking that HIV means death!
Look at malaria. Every year, millions of Africans die from it, but we do not feel stigmatised when we talk about malaria. When we contract malaria, we rush to the doctor and demand treatment; and we do not discriminate against people who have malaria. I think the stigma associated with HIV has to do with the perception that it is an infection mainly driven by lifestyle choices personal desires, sex, drugs or alcohol. MAMBO: If politicians are not
taking a leading role in AIDS education, should artists like you not take up that role?
Hugh: As artists, we do have a wide audience – and influence - but there is a limit to how much change we can achieve on the ground. Besides, many of the young artists today appear to be more interested in material things - Western lifestyle and the bling culture -than in drawing attention to the many social issues in their society. Only a few of them appreciate the value in preserving their African culture, which in the past laid down clear rules about what people should and shouldn’t be doing with their sex life - which is why I am dedicating the next 15 years, if I am alive, to building a truly African music industry. MAMBO: Tell us about the ‘Each
One Reach Five’ campaign, of which you are an active promoter Hugh: ‘Each One Reach Five’ is a campaign in South Africa to get more people to take the HIV test. It encourages one person to volunteer to take the test, and then the person gets five other people to test; each of the five in turn gets five more people to volunteer for the test. This way, many more people will get to know their status than would otherwise be possible.
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MAMBO: What is your message
to Africans in general?
Hugh: I think the real message about AIDS should focus on the adult members of our society, in particular male adults. In South Africa where I come from, there are just too many cases of rape, sexual violence and intimidation against women, which are driving the epidemic. As men, we need to treat our women better. In my view, the day we start tackling the gender imbalance, such as by giving our women more respect, is the day the real campaign to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS will begin. Also, as Africans, we need to avoid dangerous habits such as excessive drinking, drug abuse, or jumping from one relationship to another. MAMBO: What about the younger
generation? They, too, are at risk from HIV.
Hugh: The youths are often lured by the ‘juices’ that older people offer them. Poverty and the loss of a sense of direction can put a young person at risk of a sexually transmitted disease. My message to the youths is that understanding culture and tradition will give you a sense of direction. Nowadays, too many young people want to copy Western lifestyle, complete with practices and attitudes that they do not fully understand, but which can put their sexual health at risk. MAMBO: Any final message to
the UK African community?
Hugh: My final word is: HIV affects everybody. Even if you are not infected, you should give support to those who are, in the same way you would give support to someone with cancer or malaria.
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Mambo Spring 2009
Poor sexual health linked to beliefs and attitudes A survey has found that African people’s beliefs and attitudes about sexual health can affect whether they are more, or less likely to get a sexually transmitted infection. BASS Line 2007 Survey also found that the sexual health needs of Africans are not being fully met. John Owuor summarises the key findings.
About the survey:
Other reasons for not testing included:
BASS Line 2007 Survey was intended to find answers to the question as to why Africans are at higher risk from sexually transmitted infections, in particular HIV, than any other population group. Its findings are helping government and voluntary organisations to better plan for services that target Africans.
• The mistaken belief that people get deported for testing positive;
Participants in the survey gave different but very interesting answers to the survey questions. For example, when asked why they had never gone for a HIV test, the following were given as answers:
What the survey found:
• “People I know do not approve of HIV testing” • “I didn’t know the test existed” • “It’s not important for me to know my HIV status” • “I don’t trust the places I know where I could test” • “It would cause problems in my relationship”.
• S ome were scared they might be infected already, so ‘better not to confirm’;
HIV diagnoses and routes of infection among Black Africans in the UK by June 2008
• Fear of stigma and discrimination, or that the partner will reject them; • Some said they had never had sex.
Sexual behaviour One in ten Africans who took part in the survey reported unprotected sex with someone of unknown HIV status. This was more common among people with more than one sexual partner;
62% Heterosexual contact (women) 31% Heterosexual contact (men) 4% Mother to child 1% Sex between men 1% Blood/tissue transfer 1% Undetermined 0% Injecting drug use
Males who had tested positive were more likely than females to report unprotected intercourse with someone of unknown HIV status; Bisexual males (i.e. men who are attracted to men as well as women) were more likely to have sexual relationships outside their regular relationship.
Did you know? • That in 2007 there were 2,691 HIV infections diagnosed in Black Africans in the UK; • That the HIV infection rate among Black Africans is nearly ten times that for Black Caribbean, and over 30 times that for the white population?
Testing history 47% of all participants in the survey had never tested for HIV;
Sexual health and age groups The average age of the people who took part in the survey was 32 years. The study found that young people aged 20 and below are at greatest risk from sexually transmitted infections. • T hey knew less about HIV compared to older people; • They had problems getting hold of free condoms;
• That three out of every ten Africans with HIV do not yet know that they have the virus?
• T hey felt less confident about talking about safer sex with their partner.
• That four out of every ten Africans with HIV get tested very late, often when the virus has damaged their immune system?
The 20-30 years age group reported higher risk sexual behaviour that could lead to HIV transmission
About 28% of them who said they were willing or would consider taking the HIV test did not know where to get tested; The majority of those who had never tested said the main reason was that they did not think they were at risk from HIV.
Condom use •A bout 23% of respondents said they had problems getting free condoms; • About 29% said they would worry about what people would think if they carried condoms around; • 7 0% had used condoms in the previous year; this was more common among males than females;
Mambo Spring 2009
THE
Did you know? • Condoms are available free of charge from some GPs, sexual health clinics, family planning clinics and some African voluntary organisations? • That information about how to use the condom, and what to do in case the condom breaks, is included in each condom pack? • That used properly, the condom can prevent a sexually transmitted infection?
However, about a quarter of those who used condoms reported condom failure due to: 1. U sing a condom for more than 30 minutes 2. Using wrong-sized condoms 3. Not using any form of water -based lubricant.
Facts about the HIV test:
Useful contacts: You can get further information about sexual health and HIV services from the following sources: African HIV Policy Network (AHPN) www.ahpn.org Family Planning Association www.fpa.org.uk/ National AIDS Trust www.nat.org.uk
Did you know that the HIV test is free at all NHS hospitals, at some GPs and community organisations, and that there is probably a test site near where you live? Also, did you know of the following benefits of testing? • If you are positive, you will be able to discuss treatment and other forms of support with your doctor; • Y ou will be able to make better plans for you and your family; •N owadays, with treatment a person with HIV can expect to live well into advanced age, as long as he or she avoids alcohol, smoking, drug abuse, heavy manual work, and eats and sleeps well;
Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) www.tht.org.uk National AIDS Manual (NAM) www.aidsmap.com African AIDS help line 0800 0967500 THT direct 08451221200 Terrence Higgins Trust clinics www.tht.org.uk/howwecanhelpyou/ clinics/ FPA www.fpa.org.uk/finder/ Mambo online www.mambo.org.uk For the full survey report please visit www.sigmaresearch.org.uk/go.php/ reports/report2008b/
• Information about your test result will not passed on to your GP or other people without your knowledge or permission (although a court might ask a doctor to reveal the information if required); •N owadays HIV tests can produce a result within an hour, meaning you will not have to spend a long time at the clinic.
Bajomo der Enitan Mambo rea ast London, ,E of Plaistow s her iPOD ow h s ly proud bo g the Mam in n in w after s b . Up for gra Prize Quiz ue: a in this iss son Sony Erics one. mobile ph
9
SURVEY
All returned questionnaires will be entered into a draw, and one lucky reader will win the prize. The deadline for returning your questionnaire is 30th June 2009. 1 Have you visited a sexual health clinic in the recent past? Yes
No
Fill in this short questionnaire and you could be the proud owner of this stylish mobile phone.
2 In the past 2 years, how many times have you taken the HIV test, if at all? 3 If you use condoms, have you ever experienced condom failure? Yes
No
4 If you wanted to use condoms, would it be easy for you to get some free of charge? Yes
No
5 PEP (or post exposure prophylaxis) is the treatment given by doctors to prevent HIV infection following a risky practice such as having unprotected sex.
a. Did you know about PEP? Yes
b. Would you request PEP at your hospital if you had been at risk of getting HIV? Yes
No
No
c. Did you know that PEP is unlikely to work if given more than 72 hours after the risky event? Yes
No
6 What other information would you like Mambo to provide? 7 After reading Mambo, tell us what HIV/sexual health service would most benefit people in your community.
Thank you. Now please write your contact details here: Name: Address:
Email: Age:
Male
Female
I got my copy of Mambo from: GOOD LUCK! Now put your form in an envelope and mail to: The Editor, Mambo magazine; Terrence Higgins Trust, 314-320 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP. Alternatively, you can fax your form to 020 7812 1799
Beauty 10
Mambo Spring 2009
She is 21 years old, a final year student of Sports Science at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, and also a beauty queen. Andella Chileshe Matthews, the new Miss Zambia UK is a girl who is determined to do something about the many problems facing African women and children, both here in the UK and in Zambia. In this interview, she tells Mambo Editor Joseph Ochieng about how she plans to do that. MAMBO: What made you decide
to enter the Miss Zambia UK beauty contest?
Andella: The Miss Zambian pageant was founded on the principle of ‘Beauty with a Purpose’, an initiative that uses beauty contests as a way of raising awareness of the hardships faced by Africans, particularly – women and children – as a result of HIV/AIDS. The annual contest is held in memory of all Zambian women who have died of AIDS. This cause is very close to my heart, as I am not only Zambian, but also someone who has lost friends and family members to the disease. I thought it would be a great idea to have the opportunity to help the cause. MAMBO: And how will you use the
title to do charitable work to help people in the Zambian community in the UK and back in Zambia? Andella: Winning the Miss Zambian UK title has opened many doors to me and led me down paths that were previously not accessible to me. I have met several influential people in the short time I have held the title, and I am now in the unique position where people take serious note of what I say. I will use my influence to raise awareness of the many challenges that face the Zambian and other African communities in the Diaspora. I am adding my voice to the efforts of individuals and organisations in the attempt to overcome these challenges. I am particularly glad
that I can be of use especially to young people, and on that basis, I feel I am a role model to a lot of young people today, many of whom may be facing diverse challenges. I am also glad to know that I can help to raise cash for work with widows and orphans in Zambia. MAMBO: Do you think that African
role models such as beauty queens, pop stars, sportspeople or statesmen have a duty to promote sexual health awareness in their community?
Andella: Yes. Definitely. Whereas it is true that you don’t have to be famous or a role model to achieve change, in this celebrity-obsessed era, those of us who are in the public limelight are often looked up to, especially by young people. It’s therefore our responsibility to ensure that people get the right message about sexual health and lifestyle. As Miss Zambia UK, I am now the patron of ‘Positive Runway - the Global Catwalk to Stop the Spread,’ which is a global HIV/AIDS campaign founded by Perryfield Promotions, organisers of the Miss Zambian UK beauty pageant. Positive Runway aims to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS by using beauty queens, pop stars, models and actors as advocates of the message to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. MAMBO: What specific roles
and responsibilities come with your title?
a h t e i s o w p r
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Andella: Only a week after I was crowned Miss Zambia UK, I joined the Zambian High Commissioner to the UK as a guest of honour to raise funds at a Contessa Charity Ball in Bournemouth. Contessa is a UK charity that works to improve quality of life for HIV/AIDS orphans and other underprivileged children in Zambia. I am also involved with Sport in Action, another UK-based charity working with children in Zambia and in many other African countries. In April, I will be going to Zambia to work on projects run by Contessa and the All Star Kids. I will also participate in a Sport and HIV Leadership training for people living with HIV/AIDS organised by Sport in Action Zambia. Finally, I will co-host, along with the Zambian minister for sports, a Sports Tournament and Sports Skills Challenge for children living with HIV/AIDS. All this, in addition to my role as patron of Positive Runway – The Global Catwalk to Stop the Spread of HIV/AIDS. MAMBO: Any
personal sexual health messages for Zambians, and Africans in general, who live in the UK?
Andella: My message is aimed especially to young Africans who are really the future for our continent: Get tested, know your HIV status, and be careful about who you choose as your boyfriend or girlfriend because, unlike other sexually transmitted infections, HIV has no cure. And finally, practise safer sex. Always use the condom. Remember, the condom protects not just yourself, but also your partner.
PositiveLiving
Mambo Spring 2009
11
Everyone who has been diagnosed HIV positive has their own story about the moments before and after the test. In this article, Pamela Mahaka tells of her determination not to allow HIV to stop her from pursuing her dreams. My attitude has always been that there is little to be gained from talking about how someone got the virus. It is what happens ‘after’ the infection that matters most. For my part, I’m glad I took the test. I had visited the clinic to get tested for thrush, but when I got there I decided I might as well get a general sexual health check. Interestingly, although that was only three years ago, I now do not remember much about the procedures, but I do remember the emotions, the devastation, and the initial realisation that nothing would ever be the same for me again. In the days following the test, I realised that, although the result meant there were going to be some changes to the plans I had for the future, I was the only one who could control those changes. Luckily, I had the necessary support of family, friends and colleagues in my social group.
Support for people with diagnosed HIV For more information about HIV, and where to test, please visit: www.tht.org www.aidsmap.com www.ruthinking.co.uk www.likeitis.org.uk or call the following helplines: THT Direct on 0845 1221200 The African AIDS Helpline on 0800 0967500 Brooks Helpline on 0800 0185023 Sexwise on 0800 282930
I always tell my friends that a positive HIV test result is a bit like falling down. When you fall, do you stay on the ground for long, or do you try and stand up? You have to carry on with life, so that when other people come to help, they can see that you want to move on. Having HIV does not necessarily mean you will not be able to lead a normal life, nor that you will not achieve the dreams you always had. You can still achieve those dreams, albeit often in a different way.
As young people, we have so many things that we plan to do. I had plans myself – of growing up and becoming a nurse, and then I thought I would join the Royal Navy, drive a nice car and live in a mansion somewhere in the middle of nowhere. But life doesn’t always go according to plan, does it? After abandoning my nursing ambition, I had to start all over again, so I studied Travel and Tourism. I intend to bring Travel and Tourism into the HIV sector, because having HIV doesn’t mean we have to stop travelling or enjoying ourselves! I have also trained as a youth worker, and am now volunteering with the African HIV Policy Network (AHPN) and with other voluntary organisations. Since my diagnosis, I have become an accredited facilitator for the Positive Self-Management Programme with Living Well Programme and the Expert Patients Programme at Macmillan Cancer Support. My advice to other young people who are thinking about their sexual health is that, it is better to know your status than to not know. Walking into a clinic or requesting a sexual health screening does not mean that you are promiscuous; on the contrary, it means that you care about your health and the health of others who are close to you. So, have not fear about visiting the clinic!
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Mambo Spring 2009
young people With data showing high levels of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies, the need for targeted sex and relationship education work with young people has never been more urgent. Terrence Higgins Trust is delivering just that – through its Young Leaders Project.
By Camilla Smith
EMPOWERING
The Young Leaders Project is a national sex and relationship education (SRE) programme developed following a consultation process that involved collecting the views of 120 young people from different backgrounds about what kind of SRE they need, who is best placed to deliver it and how they would like to increase their knowledge and skills in this area.
The regional boards are supported by a national board of 14 young people, comprising two elected members of each of the regional boards. The national board ensure a co-ordinated national approach for the whole project. Board members receive comprehensive training and work towards achieving recognised Open College Network (OCN) accreditation.
Each year a board of young people (13-19 years old) is recruited in seven regions across England; it is given the task of establishing and managing a grant programme to support SRE projects created by other young people.
Young people aged 13-19 who live, work or study in the seven regions and belong to a youth organisation can apply to their regional board for a grant to run projects around SRE issues. Successful applicants are
required to manage the project, and they are offered training to help them do a good job. So far Young Leaders have awarded £90,000 worth of grant money and supported 100 projects, reaching a diverse range of young people. To find out how you can get involved, visit www.tht.org.uk/youknowyou For more information about sexual health, relationships and young people, please call THT Direct on 0845 1221200, or Brooks Helpline on 0800 0185023, or visit www.ruthinking.co.uk or www. likeitis.org.uk.
Hearing the message early does help! By Tahnee Braithwaite, aged 15
Okay, I’m here to talk about sex. Yes, sex is a subject that at a young age you don’t really take seriously; it’s all a bit of a laugh, really. I remember when I was first being taught sex education in primary school, I found it really funny! But now it seems like the older you get, the more serious the subject becomes, and the more serious the consequences of casual sex. That’s when you start thinking: ‘Well, kind of’. Before I joined the Young Leaders Project I really thought I knew everything about SRE from my school, but I’ve learnt so much since I joined the project. I never knew there were so many sexually transmitted infections and I also never knew chlamydia could make you infertile.
Being on the Young Leaders Project has been really useful, as the things I have learnt, I can now pass on to others. For example, one of my friends was in a really bad relationship, but to her, the relationship was the best thing in the world. They decided to have sex. At first, she thought everything was cool, but then one day, after realising her period was late, she came to me and asked me to go with her to the clinic. She was given a pregnancy test. She was pregnant! Do you know what her boyfriend told her? “Oh I forgot to tell you the condom split”, was how he reacted to the news! How insensitive was that? I had to explain to my friend what steps she could take, and as a result of my advice, she was able to get support from a number of people and organisations.
I feel so good that I was able to help someone I was so close to, and to know what I was talking about. It’s also fun being in the Young Leaders project. You get to meet so many people from different parts of London, who you realise are just the same as you. A project meeting is never boring; it’s packed with so much fun it kind of feels like a social event.
For more information about sexual health and young people, please visit www.ruthinking.co.uk; www.likeitis.org.uk; or call the Sexwise Helpline on 0800 282930; Brooks Helpline on 0800 0185023.
Mambo Spring 2009
Liberian president receives FAO award
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie adopt another Ethiopian girl
The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)’s Ceres Medal Award for 2008 has been given to President Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. The award is in recognition of her commitment to promoting peace, food security, health and education as a means of achieving a Liberia free of hunger and poverty. The Ceres Medal is named after the Roman goddess of agriculture, and is awarded annually to women who have made an outstanding contribution to social and humanitarian affairs or to agriculture and food security.
Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are adopting yet another Ethiopian child. The adoption will increase the size of the couple’s household from seven to nine. Already, they have three children of their own, plus two others adopted from Cambodia and Vietnam, and four-year old Zahara, who was adopted from Ethiopia earlier. Pitt and Jolie were in Addis Ababa earlier this year to sign the adoption papers and to visit the AIDS clinic that they founded after adopting Zahara. .
AFRICAN ROUND-UP
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Obama’s granny in first public duty The Kenyan grandmother of American president Barrack Obama was given the honour of flagging off the December 2008 World AIDS Day marathon in Kisumu (western Kenya), in what looked like the first of a series of high-profile public roles that she is set to play. Mama Sarah Obama later told journalists: “I feel greatly privileged to be invited [to this event] because my grandson is very concerned about the ravages of HIV”. During his visit to Kisumu in 2006, Obama, then a senator, went through a HIV counselling and testing procedure. At 15%, the HIV prevalence rate in Kisumu is double the national rate of 7.5%.
Pastor wins prestigious award for AIDS work Ugandan pastor Rev Canon Gideon Byamugisha has been awarded the 2009 Niwano Peace Prize in recognition of his pioneering work as an AIDS advocate and campaigner against AIDS-related stigma. Rev Gideon was the first ever African religious leader to openly declare that he is HIV positive. He will collect his prize – worth US$213,000 - in Tokyo on May 7.
World Bank launches Phase II malaria programme African countries are to benefit from a US$1.1 billion aid to expand their malaria prevention programmes. The Bank’s Vice President for Africa Region, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili said the aid aims to save more lives, improve health systems and help eligible countries to work together to stop the spread of malaria.
The AIDS message goes hi-tec in South Africa Since 1st December 2008, millions of South Africans have been receiving AIDS messages through their mobile phone. This new way of delivering health promotion is part of Project Masiluleke, which was set up to encourage people to seek HIV testing and treatment. Following the launch of the project, calls to HIV services went up by 200%. There are an estimated 43 million mobile hand sets in South Africa, a country with one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world.
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