community profile
Yombo Vituka is a community in Dar es Salaam with an estimated population of 109,000. This community has a high rate of HIV infection and an extremely high rate of stigma associated with the disease. One of the primary school leaders in the community remarked that a large portion of the school aged population is HIV+ and has been from birth. This is a result of stigma and discrimination of HIV+ mothers as well as a lack of access to proper mother to child transmission prevention services.
CARE for AIDS began operations in Yombo Vituka in late 2019.
CENTER STAFF
SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR: RITHA MICHAEL NGAILO
Ritha grew up in Tanzania’s Mbeya region. Her mother passed away when Ritha was only seven, and her father never remarried, often leaving the children to care for themselves. Today, she and her husband George are the proud parents of two girls, Abigail and Elise.
“Because of my work for CARE for AIDS, I can touch the lives of many who have lost their hopes. I can encourage them, for I have been at their place.”
Health Counselor: Emmanuel Boniface
Emmanuel joined the CARE for AIDS team in 2019. He is passionate about caring for marginalized communities and loves serving as the health counselor in his community.
center history
YEAR GRADUATES FAITH-DECISIONS ORPHANS PREVENTED
2019-2020* N/A N/A N/A
2020-2021 76 12 121
*The cohort in the 2019-2020 class did not graduate in the 2020 calendar year because of delays in the CARE for AIDS program caused by COVID-19 lockdowns and health precautions. To learn more about how we responded to the pandemic, visit this page.
client profiles
Shemisa, 2020 Client
Before testing positive for HIV, Shemsia was a successful business woman living happily with her family. She had even been able to buy two plots of land where she planned to build a home and a permanent place for her shop. When she tested positive for HIV, her whole life changed. Her family rejected her and she lost hope. She sold her plots of land so she could provide for her own basic needs as her business went under due to community stigma.
In 2020, Shemisa took the brave step of joining the CARE for AIDS program in her community. Throughout the program she learned how to manage her health well- she learned that HIV was not a death sentence. Her favorite part of the program is group therapy. She loves learning from her peers about how they cope with stress and stigma.
Shemisa was inspired to open her business again to prove to her community that HIV does not define her. She is looking forward to the future and we cannot wait to see the incredible things she does.