Project Launch: 12-23-19

This project will build an Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinic at Nkhorongo Health Centre. The clinic will increase access to health services such as Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), access to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), family planning, and general counselling for positive living. The project will enhance confidentiality and privacy for members accessing these services which will encourage more people to know their serostatus through testing and counseling. The project will increase the number of people being tested, reduce default rates in ART uptake, and promote positive living through counseling services. 

Project Update: 4-7-20

With this second grant from World Connect of $9,850.38, the Association for Sustainable Development (ASUD), in partnership with the Nkhorongo Community, started the construction of the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Clinic in December 2019. The project which has support of the Ministry of Health and City council has generated a lot of community interest and enthusiasm as people envisage a more confidential place to have HIV testing, counselling, and access to treatment. The group plans to finish the clinic by June 30th. Once the clinic is opened, over 1,000 people will be served on a monthly basis. 

Juliet Kumwenda (35) is overjoyed with the project and said, “I will benefit a lot from this project especially one to one and group counseling efforts. This is because the new ART clinic has several rooms where I can individually talk to the HIV/AIDS counselor and also a conference room where group counseling will be conducted.” 

Final Report: 2-28-21

With a $9,850.38 World Connect grant, Action for Sustainable Development, led by Thomas Ngwira, has completed the construction of an Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinic at Nkhorongo health center in Mzuzu city. The coming of this ART clinic has provided people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) and people who need testing and counseling for HIV a private space to access treatment and counselling. Prior to the project, the health center reported an average of 28 people per month reporting for counselling and testing, but with the new clinic, the clinic has reported over 120 people coming for counselling and testing per month, this indicates a 200% increase in people accessing HIV/AIDS information and services. The clinic has also formed four counselling groups for PLWA where they access information as a group hence motivating one another. They have also started teen clubs, where young people can have their personal and comfortable space to discuss HIV/AIDS issues and help them adhere to treatment.This has helped in reducing the defaulters rate to 2% compared to before the clinic was built which was about 10%. The clinic has been furnished by Adventist Health Services Missionaries, who built and oversee the main health center (Nkhorongo Health Center) as part of their community contribution. The direct beneficiaries of this project PLWA, now have access to health education and group counseling in a conference room located inside the ART clinic which is helping them to improve their mental and physical health status.