Basecamp HIV/ AIDS Awareness Project

Partners:
Talek community Health Clinic, CMF - Christian Missionary Foundation, A Better World NGO, Canada, Kenya Ministry of Health, Kenya FEMINA-HIP, Tanzania and Basecamp Explorer


Background:
HIV/AIDS is spreading everywhere in East African and is a huge threat to livelihoods and people. Maasai land, the heart of the wildlife tourism in the region, is now experiencing the early stages of what is likely to be a catastrophic HIV epidemic. The presence of HIV /AIDS related deaths have become apparent. HIV is a new disease, a new threat and many in the Maasai community remain unprepared, uninformed and unprotected. Many are marginalized and have limited access to education and health services which makes today’s situation of rapid change vulnerable. Misunderstandings about HIV / AIDS, are combined with customary Maasai polygamy and inability to rely on elders' guidance. Ethnographic research has revealed confusion and lack of accurate knowledge about the mechanisms of HIV/AIDS. Health education programs are critically needed to avert a catastrophe in Maasai communities.

Aims:
To generally support and develop community health facilities, functions and programs-
To build awareness within the Basecamp workplace and its surrounding community on HIV /AIDS
To put in place an HIV /AIDS and sexuality education program to protect our workforce and the surrounding community-

Results:
In February 2007 the FEMINA HIP team made a visit to Basecamp Masai Mara to conduct an assessment of the workplace and community setting. The objective of the study was to assess the situation, survey the employees’ and local villagers knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to HIV/AIDS, the context and what needs to be done to initiate a responsible tourism and HIV initiative. Understanding the cultural meanings and the function of sex among the Maasai and how these may contribute to the transmission and spread of HIV and AIDS morbidity patterns, and subsequently to suffering and mortality in the Masai Mara communities is important. The workplace situation, human resource policies and practices also had to be considered. In July 2007 Femina HIP started a first training session of Basecamp Masai Mara staff and management. A memorandum of understanding between Femina HIP and Basecamp Explorer established. A draft of Basecamp Explorer Human Resource Policy was written.


The way forward - Aims 2008:

Femina HIP to assist in designing a concerted workplace and community HIV/AIDS program for the company, using the African based camps as the pilot.

Femina HIP to assist set a template for a HIV/AIDS workplace policy; delineating components.

Femina HIP to assist build a strategy for educating staff in HIV prevention, spreading of information about HIV in the workplace, poster, flyers, and booklets on HIV AIDS.

Femina HIP to train employees as ‘peer health educators’ so that they can pass on information about HIV/AIDS to their fellow workers.

Basecamp Explorer to identify and appoint a person responsible for running the program.

Basecamp Explorer to start advertising and facilitating access to free testing and counselling.

Basecamp Explorer to start distributing condoms at the work place as a means of protection for their employees.

Basecamp Explorer to start an outreach program to the families and communities to mitigate the epidemic by giving information and services for the families of the employees. Information transmission through peer education programs can be initiated to ensure that the community, youth as well as adults are well informed. FEMINA HIP materials are well suited for use in this kind of setting.

Femina HIP to help identify other organization and institution locally that will be able to offer Basecamp Explorer further assistance in terms of training, clinical support and counselling.

Femina HIP and Basecamp Explorer t set up a distribution list for in and out of workplace and distribution logistics

Femina HIP to assist Basecamp Explorer lobby so that ESOK rating criteria for responsible tourism includes HIV/AIDS workplace and community programs.

Femina HIP assist in building capacity with Basecamp Explorer in respect to Aids - HIV, and set up regular reporting and monitoring systems of activities

Basecamp Explorer to finalize a human resource policy

Funding
Partial funding secured, opportunities for further funding exist.

For further info contact us on: projects@basecampexplorer.com