During the month of August, the Community HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Project intensified activities in the provinces of Benguela, Cuanza Sul and Bié, focusing on prevention, follow-up and treatment adherence.

Planning and community capacity-building sessions were held, bringing together local leaders and monitoring and evaluation technicians, fostering dialogue on strategies to combat the two diseases. The actions emphasized the importance of active community participation in the planning and implementation of initiatives.

In Benguela, the team carried out door-to-door visits, sample collection, counselling and voluntary testing, with priority given to pregnant women and mothers with babies. It also ensured the distribution of monthly incentives to participants under follow-up, reinforcing adherence to treatment. The province also hosted an advocacy meeting at the Monte Belo Disease Treatment Unit, with a focus on sample processing and updating lists of treatment dropouts.

In Bié, the Project collaborated in the quantification process of 1st- and 2nd-line drugs, in partnership with UNDP and the Provincial Health Office, strengthening the tuberculosis response and coordination among partners.

As part of the Community-based Directly Observed Treatment Subproject (DOTS-C), integrated into the Community Project for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, a community lecture was held in April 2025in Tomás neighborhood, Alto Catumbela, in the Babaera/Ganda municipality.

The session aimed to raise awareness about TB transmission, prevention, and treatment. Key topics included:

• How TB is transmitted, especially through airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes of infected individuals;
• Preventive measures such as good ventilation, respiratory hygiene, and early diagnosis;
• The importance of proper treatment, highlighting the critical role of Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) in curing TB and preventing drug resistance.

The session was well-attended by local leaders (sobas) and community members, who asked questions and shared experiences. The event concluded with the distribution of IEC materials, promoting health education and access to reliable information.

For more information about the project, subscribe to our newsletters or read past editions here.

In February 2025, a specialised training session was held in Cuanza Sul under the Community Project for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, in collaboration with the International Coordination of Humana People to People Federation.

The training aimed to strengthen the technical and strategic skills of the local TB team, focusing on community-based approaches and effective strategies to respond to tuberculosis.

Participants included TB supervisors, Monitoring and Evaluation staff, community leaders, field officers, and members of the provincial project coordination team — all joining efforts to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment adherence in vulnerable communities.

This capacity-building effort is part of the project’s broader commitment to enhancing local capabilities and ensuring a coordinated and effective TB response.

For more information about the project, subscribe to our newsletters or read past editions here.

With the support of the Community Project for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, a door-to-door and market sensitisation campaign took place in January 2025, in Genle neighborhood, Cuito municipality, Bié province.

The campaign aimed to identify pregnant women who had not yet started prenatal consultations and raise awareness of the importance of medical follow-up during pregnancy, for the health of both mother and child.

Community health workers also shared vital information on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention, encouraging regular access to local health services.

This initiative reinforces the project's role in promoting community health by bringing information and basic care to those most in need.

For more information about the project, subscribe to our newsletters or read past editions here.

As part of the Community Project for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, a pastry training was held in Benguela in January 2025, aimed at empowering young women from the Bancadas area by developing practical entrepreneurship skills.

Throughout the training, participants acquired vocational skills that can generate sustainable income and improve their living conditions. In addition to technical skills, the activity included awareness sessions on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, enhancing the girls’ knowledge on prevention, care, and access to treatment.

This initiative demonstrates how integrating health education with economic empowerment can promote female empowerment and contribute to more informed and resilient communities.

For more information about the project, subscribe to our newsletters or read past editions here.