| TKMOAMS is a voluntary, non-profit, non-governmental social welfare organization that is registered with the Ministry of Health and Social Service. Its headquarters are in Oshakati (Oneshila), but its activities span four rural regions -- namely Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto. Our work is based mostly in the rural areas; yet this is the most densely populated part of our Country with an HIV prevalence rate of more than 19.9%. Almost half of the country’s People living with HIV/AIDS live in our catchment’s area. Some lived in this area all their lives, but many others moved back here from Namibia’s urban centers after they became ill. Also two recent studies (by Project Hope under USAID/ 2006 and by UNICEF/ 2006) demonstrated that 75% of older people in these regions are caring for orphans and over 60% of these children are orphaned as result of HIV/AIDS.
TKMOAMS started in 1996 as an outreach project at the Oshakati State Hospital, when two nurses trained in HIV counseling and support felt that many of their patients could be properly treated in their homes if local people were recruited and trained as Home Based Care volunteers. But from the beginning, both nurses knew that, by involving these volunteers, they would break down the stigma that surrounded this disease and help prevent its spread. The nurses are Engelbrecht Mwanyangapo who left the organisation some years later, and Diana Shilongo who still works at the hospital and went on to become the first Chairperson of the TKMOAMS Board. The project grew quickly as every month more and more local volunteers asked to take part.
In 1999, Diana Shilongo requested an international volunteer
from the VSO to help develop the project into an independent community-based
organization. Several other VSO volunteeers followed. By this time, however,
the local volunteers had named the organization TKMOAMS, which is an Oshiwambo
(a local language) acronym, but translates in English as ‘Almighty
Father Help us Stop the AIDS Pandemic in our Country.’ In 2002,
TKMOAMS reached a new milestone. Money was raised from local and international
donor organizations, especially Namibia’s national diamond company
(NamDeb), which assisted the project with a vehicle. The EU with small
grants, assisted to fund an office building and support centre. Three-and-a-half
years ago we became a fully recognized social welfare organisation with
a general membership (i.e. our volunteers and other interested individuals),
a Board of Trustees, and a small staff.
Funding for core expenses now comes from PACT/USAID and
Yelula/U-khâi. But TKMOAMS still faces huge budget constraints,
especially, on project staff that are important for the organisation to
support its projects and programs successfully. Our goal is to support
our volunteers in the community by strengthening their capacity through
training and monthly supervision.
Currently TKOMAMS has 612 volunteers who care for over
3600 clients who are mostly living with HIV/AIDS. They also support orphans
and vulnerable children and visit their homes regularly. |
