Cecilia Machena (right) a Behaviour Change Community Motivator and Lawrence Munyama, National AIDS Council, District AIDS Coordinator for Nyanga during Male Engagement session
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
As journalists on a National AIDS Council (NAC) tour of Manicaland Province walk into a classroom in Nyanga District, something seems odd.
Whilst the room has about 20 men, one cannot help but notice a woman who is clad in apostolic sect white garments, sitting amongst them.
She smiles at the journalists and NAC officials who walk in and she welcomes the visitors in Shona “titambire.”
NAC District AIDS Coordinator for Nyanga, Lawrence Munyama, reveals that the group of men are members of the Male Engagement programme.
And the woman amongst them is Cecilia Machena popularly known as Mai Marwei, who is a Behaviour Change Community Motivator (BCCM).
Mai Marwei has dedicated her life to help fight HIV using behaviour intervention.
According to the Global HIV Prevention Coalition, “behavioural interventions for HIV prevention are applied to promote change in sexual behaviour.
“To achieve this, they commonly address knowledge, attitudes, risk perception, norms, HIV service demand and skills.
“Interventions mostly include interpersonal and media communication, but they also include financial and other incentives.
“Platforms for implementation can be community outreach, schools, health facilities, workplaces or other settings.”
It is further revealed that “behaviour change communication is an interactive process with communities (as integrated with an overall program), to develop tailored messages and approaches using a variety of communication channels to develop positive behaviours; promote and sustain individual, community and societal behaviour change; and maintain appropriate behaviours.”
Cecilia Machena popularly known as Mai Marwei conducting a Male Engagement session
Mai Marwei then conducted a Male Engagement session as she expertly showed her interaction skills with the men, engaging in several topics including HIV and AIDS, HIV Testing, condom use and Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Speaking to this reporter after her session, Mai Marwei revealed that she had dedicated her life to this cause.
“Many people will look at me and wonder why and how I can be able to work with a group of 20 men talking about health and other related issues.
“One thing I can tell you is that I don’t have any problems being engaged in this programme because I have the full support of my husband and also the men respect me quite a lot, no matter the discussion.
“There is no problem whatsoever,” she says with an infectious smile.
Mai Marwei further revealed that while men’s health seeking behaviour is poor, that has since changed in her Tabudirira Ward 14, where men are actively participating in the cause.
“The health seeking behaviour for men has improved here and as a BCCM, I’m so happy and appreciate this a lot. I can see the positive impact that this is doing in our community.
“I provide them with condoms, self-test kits and anything related so this is what we call positive change.”
Whilst she is a member of an apostolic sect, who in some cases are known for shying away from seeking health services, Mai Marwei says her religion does not deter her in any way.
She added that she is bent on improving the lives of people, as she calls herself a role model.
“There is no challenge whatsoever that I’m a member of an apostolic sect because I believe I’m doing good.
“I’m teaching men about health so no-one has an issue with me and I don’t have an issue with anyone.
“I see myself as a role model so I know I’m doing a good job; this is my calling.
“I’m free to do anything that is related to my work with no hindrance,” she said.
And while one would think that other women in her community are not keen to have their husbands spend some time with Mai Marwei discussing about health and other issues, she says it’s not the case.
She revealed that many women actually rely on her for health advice.
“Many women in my community actually want me to help them with health issues or behaviour issues concerning their husbands.
“I work with a group of 20 men and we also do home visits, like in a month we do about 16 home visits, so when I carry out these, we discuss all issues in the presence of the women, so nothing is done clandestinely.
“So some women actually call me to say please come and help me,” said Mai Marwei.
This reporter also got to learn that Mai Marwei’s husband, Israel Benjamin Marwei, is part of those who attend her sessions.
Israel revealed that he gives his wife his full support and this has helped her to be a better BCCM.
“The work that she does is something that I really appreciate because it helps us to live in harmony.
“We don’t even argue and this helps us a lot because our discussions are open, so this is something good.
“She is a beacon of hope in our community as you saw from the session which you saw; many men and even the wives are so appreciative of the impact.
“We learn quite a lot from this programme and I want to see it grow and as a her husband; I’m so proud,” added Israel.
Munyama, NAC District AIDS Coordinator for Nyanga said before the Male Engagement programme, men in his district were shunning health services.
“We had issues of men having low health seeking behaviour, they were not even keen on taking care of their health.
“It was also compounded by the fear of getting tested for any disease you can think of, and this is contrary to women, because they are quite aware of health status and they even seek services for their children.
“So we would have situations whereby men present very late for their tests, so with this Male Engagement programme, we are aiming to have men take better care of themselves,” he said.
Munyama added that their programme had also helped with tackling GBV which was rampant in their community.
“GBV is so common and we should all accept that in most cases, men are involved, so by engaging them, we are playing a part in reducing the scourge (GBV).
“This programme has also greatly improved issues to do with family planning because most squabbles emanate from the failure to communicate on such things.
“Let me also point out that we want to harmonize people’s relations in the families, so this programme really helps us.
“This programme has really been embraced in our community because a lot of men are so happy with it.
“The good thing is that it also has the support of the local leadership here, be it Councillors or Village Heads, they are supporting it because they have seen the benefits.”
In Nyanga, Mai Marwei is celebrated as she has dedicated to work with men to bring positive behavioural change as she reiterates, “this is my calling.”
