TINY TIM AND FRIENDS
  • Home
  • Donate Online
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • HIV/AIDS - Know the Facts
    • Our People
    • Our Partners
  • What we do
    • Who We Help
    • TTF Clinic
    • Community Outreaches
    • Counselling/ Support Groups
    • EMTCT
    • Nutritional Support
    • Palliative Care
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer opportunities
    • Fundraise for TTF
    • Give a Gift in Kind
    • Work with us
  • TTF Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Contact TTF Zambia
    • Contact TTF USA
    • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Donate
  • Work with us

help us win £10,000 - vote for our short film

4/12/2018

1 Comment

 
Margaret working in the community
Tiny Tim & Friends has entered a film competition, Every Footstep Counts, and we need your help. 

The competition aims to showcase and celebrate the successes organisations, like Tiny Tim & Friends, are making worldwide that are integral to end mother-to-child transmission and paediatric HIV.  By following this link and voting for Tiny Tim & Friends  film, "The Power of Living Positively", you can help us to win £10,000 and the opportunity to attend the International AIDS Conference in 2018 and showcase our work to global leaders in the field of HIV. 

Vote for Tiny Tim & Friends Film and help us to win £10,000. 

The Six films with the most votes will go to a judging panel where the top two will be classified as winners. So we need your votes! 

Tiny Tim & Friends' film focuses on the work of one of our community health volunteers, Margaret. Margaret lives positively within her community, sharing her status to encourage others to access HIV testing and treatment. Through her work with the TTF Clinic she reaches out to vulnerable children and pregnant women who would have otherwise not accessed services. Every day she engages with new people, working to ensure children and pregnant women living with HIV are accessing treatment and staying in care. She continually follows TTF's Mission -  working towards a future where no child is living with HIV.   

Watch the video on the Every Footstep Counts website and vote for Tiny Tim & Friends - The Power of Positivity
1 Comment

DEALING WITH THE LOSS OF A LEADER AND A FRIEND

10/26/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture

THERE IS AN AFRICAN PROVERB - IF YOU WANT TO WALK FAST WALK ALONE, IF YOU WANT TO WALK FAR, WALK TOGETHER...


At the Tiny Tim & Friends Clinic death and loss can be a daily part of our lives. We deal with some of the most vulnerable children and adolescents, often either reaching them too late, or their social and medical problems are beyond what we can help, or can be dealt with within the limitations of the Zambian Healthcare and social support systems. 

Whilst the loss of any child or patient never gets any easier, working in this field with vulnerable individuals, it is never usually sudden or completely unexpected. Dealing with vulnerable populations you have to quickly learn how to adapt to maintain your own sanity in what can often feel like a senseless loss.

They say there are seven stages to grief; shock, denial, bargaining, guilt, anger, sadness and finally acceptance or hope. Working at Tiny Tim & Friends you often have to compartmentalize emotions and move quickly through the grieving process focusing not on the loss but accepting what has happened as a part of our work.
​
Acceptance doesn’t necessarily mean not questioning what could have been done differently, but acceptance that sometimes there are circumstances beyond our control.

Last month the staff and patients at TTF faced a sudden and unexpected loss with the death of our Country Director and Founder, Dr Tim Meade. Tim was an incredibly passionate individual who was constantly putting the needs of others before his own.

Dr Tim, saw so many successes at TTF over the years and also experienced the loss of patients he had treated since they were children. He never accepted loss as failure.

Tim was always giving; he had a kind heart and a willingness to help others in such a selfless way that he was inspiring to all of the staff at TTF and those who met him. He was a dedicated leader, supportive doctor, loving father  and also a great friend.
Dr Tim and Little Tim
Tim had worked on three continents in the fight against HIV & AIDS. When he came to Zambia he found a need for specialist pediatric HIV services, and alongside his family in the United States, founded and started Tiny Tim & Friends. Working to support vulnerable HIV+ children and pregnant women became a part of his daily life. Over the course of 12 years Tim worked to build TTF from a small ward at another hospice to our own seven room clinic dealing not only with medical issues for vulnerable HIV+ children, adolescents and pregnant women, but also building a team of specialists to develop programs to support our patients social and psychological needs.
 
Since his passing staff at TTF have been working through their grief in different ways but coming together for the greater good soothed by the many patients (and family of patients) who have come forward to express their gratitude to Tim for enabling themselves, and their children, to live healthy lives. People we had never met before have approached staff to express the multitude of ways that Tim had a positive impact on their live; like inspiring them to get into medicine, to travel and see the world, or volunteer for a cause close to their hearts. Partners have approached us to tell us how important TTF and Tim’s work has been in expanding pediatric HIV services in Zambia.
 
The Tims
Dr Tim used to tell me that with every patient loss there has to be a lesson learned. Without learning anything from a loss we cannot grow or move forward. By learning from loss we can become a better organisation and better people. It sometimes it takes longer to figure out what this lesson is than on other occasions.

So what have we learned from Tim’s passing to help us move forward towards acceptance and hope?

With people sharing their stories and memories of Tim with us, we learned that being dedicated to a cause, like Tim was, can be infectious and therefore impactful to individuals outside of our networks in positive ways you don’t always see. We learned that commitment to change really does have a huge impact on the lives of the vulnerable people we work with. And that by working together, in partnership, we can learn from each other, and attain bigger goals than when working alone. 

There is an African proverb – If you want to walk fast walk alone, if you want to walk far, walk together.
​

Whilst acceptance of his death is a long way off for many, we try every day to walk together to emulate his passion and commitment to keeping Tiny Tim & Friends running. We hope that you can join us on this journey and continue to build a legacy in Tim’s name - where no child in Zambia has HIV. ​
2 Comments

WORKING WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO REACH THE MOST IN NEED

3/16/2016

0 Comments

 
As Tiny Tim & Friends grows in terms of patients, and the number activities we undertake to provide additional layers of support to those patients, we must also grow our support networks around the world. In Lusaka our community volunteers provide an essential part of our work in: helping us access individuals who would have been previously unknown to us; in allowing us to provide home based support to our patients across Lusaka; and in ensuring we can provide follow ups to everyone we test as HIV+ in order to ensure they are getting the right medical care and treatment they need to lead a healthy life.
 
We specifically work with HIV+ women in the community to help support our work and to provide HIV awareness and sensitisation. Their personal insight into living with HIV and their understanding of the issues the communities are facing enables us to have a much greater impact on the lives of the children, adolescents and pregnant women we work everyday to support.
 
One of our community volunteers is Margaret, 45, who after her diagnosis of being HIV+ decided she wanted to help others: 
Picture
“ I tested as HIV+ in 2004, I was scared at the time because I had three children and was worried they would also be HIV+. I knew a little bit about HIV but mainly that it could kill you and knew nothing about being able to live a healthy life. I got all of my children tested and they were all negative. I was put on ARV’s and started to learn more about HIV. After I understood more I decided I wanted to help other people who were HIV+ and help others to understand more about HIV. So in 2006 I started volunteering at George Clinic doing filing, helping with follow ups and monitoring the growth of malnourished children. Then one day a lady came to the clinic and told me about Tiny Tim & Friends and asked if I would be interested in volunteering with them to help identify HIV+ children and that is how I came to work with TTF.
 
My favourite part of working with TTF is when you find someone in the community, get them tested and they get enrolled into the clinic because I know then that they will have a better chance in life to be healthy.
 
There are a lot of problems in the community which I see which can lead to increased HIV transmission or ill health for people living with HIV. There is no employment, people do peacemeal work selling vegetables, cleaning, collecting bottles but nothing consistent. The best job for a community member is a security guard but you need to be healthy so if you are HIV+ and not on treatment you can get sick a lot and then end up losing your job. Because people have little money to survive some people resort to crime, stealing from peoples homes. Alcoholism and substance abuse is an issue, especially for young men and women. They have nothing else to do so soon turn to substances for entertainment. This can lead to promiscuity or sexual assault for women. Additionally a lot of young women and children are assaulted by family members. People are afraid to report it to the police for fear of judgement that they have been out drinking or that their family member (who could be a wage provider) will go to prison and their family will suffer more.
 
Its also not easy for young women to get condoms, vendors wont sell to them and they don’t feel empowered to ask a man to wear a condom in case they are accused of being promiscuous. I see a lot of teenage pregnancies because the girls are vulnerable. There are a lot of orphans in the community so they are also left vulnerable.
 
The teenagers are the ones who need education the most, to understand the importance of safe sex. And for young girls to be empowered and feel confident to insist on safe sex. In Zambian culture that is a difficult thing to overcome.
 
There is also a lot of education needed on the dangers of stopping medication once you have started it. And the importance of talking to your health care provider if you are experiencing side effects. A lot of the time in the community if someone is HIV+ and gets sick people can stop caring for them as they expect them to die but that isn't the case any more with medicine. People need educated around this.

I try and talk to 2-3 people every day, I tell them I am HIV+ and they are surprised as I am healthy – they have a lot of questions about medication and side effects. A lot of people are also afraid of getting tested but when I tell them I am HIV+ they feel a lot more comfortable, and a lot less fearful that it means an early death.

I want to go back to school so I can continue to work with TTF and do even more work with them to support HIV+ individuals in the community – to help children and families to be less fearful and ashamed and to be rid of the stigma that exists around HIV so that people can lead more open lives and transmission is reduced.
 
Since I found out I was HIV+ I have also had another child who is very healthy so I know it is possible to lead a healthy normal life with the right treatment and support, like TTF provide. I want others to have the same opportunities I have. “

0 Comments

HELP TO BUILD A POSITIVE FUTURE FOR JOYCE

11/30/2015

 
Joyce at the TTF Clinic - in need of nutritional support
​Imagine living in a home with one room, 10 family members and surviving on one meal a day.....This is the reality for Joyce, a 9 year old patient at the Tiny Tim & Friends Clinic.
​
Joyce is a new patient at TTF. She is HIV+, weighs only 12kgs (26lbs), has TB and is suffering from an all over body rash. Her symptoms and illnesses are not uncommon for a malnourished HIV+ child. Joyce currently sits below the 5th percentile on the BMI index and her health is a great concern – her CD4 count is 261 - just above a critical level.

Joyce's family situation is complex, her mother has alcohol abuse issues, and upon visiting her family home we discovered here grandmother, Betty, was seriously ill with TB - weighing only 28kgs (61lbs). Due to malnutrition Joyce is always sick and unable to go to school. Her mother never went to school and so is unable to secure regular employment, meaning food is scarce. They are stuck in a cycle of poverty. 

Joyce needs significant medical and social support in order to help her to get healthy and lead a positive life. Tiny Tim & Friends is currently supporting her in the following ways:
  • Providing nutritional support to help her gain weight, improve her general health and boost her immune system
  • Providing medical assistance through the TTF Clinic to cure her other ilnesses
  • Giving her mother adherence counselling and disclosure support so she can help tell Joyce about her HIV status and help Joyce to understand the importance of taking her medication on time
  • Helping her Grandmother (who weighed only 28kgs (61lbs) when we met her) to recover from TB and stop passing this to Joyce through emergency palliative care. 
    ​
​Joyce’s story is sadly not that unusual for the children we see at the Tiny Tim & Friends Clinic. Joyce’s mother, Miriam,  got pregnant when she was still a teenager and unfortunately, as she was not on Anti-Retroviral treatment passed HIV onto her newborn daughter.  Miriam’s siblings have passed away leaving her and her younger brother to care for their children and their own Mother, who as mentioned is also incredibly sick.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO HELP HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN LIKE JOYCE AT THE ttf cLINIC


Joyce came to Tiny Tim & Friends in August through one of our community volunteers who was  working to identify HIV+ children in one of the biggest compounds in Lusaka,  George Compound.  She found Joyce in a bar with her mother, who sadly suffers with alcohol abuse issues. Immediately our volunteer was concerned by Joyce’s appearance – after speaking to her mother, Miriam, our volunteer confirmed that Joyce was HIV+ but not currently on treatment. After a long discussion Miriam consented for Joyce to be brought to the TTF Clinic.

DONATE TO SUPPORT A CHILD LIKE JOYCE >>

Read More

THE MIX OF EMOTIONS AS A VOLUNTEER IN ZAMBIA

7/26/2015

0 Comments

 
By Katie Kampa: 

"As I complete the last few days of a ten week internship with Tiny Tim & Friends, it’s a great time for me to look back and reflect on the experiences I’ve had with the organization.  While TTF is a rather small NGO, I have been amazed at the large number of activities that they are involved in and the number of clients they manage to reach. 

"THE DEDICATED STAFF AT TTF AND THE GRACIOUS DONORS.....
 ARE CREATING A POSITIVE CHANGE ON A DAILY BASIS"


Since arriving in Zambia 10 weeks ago, I’ve had the opportunity to learn so much from administrative and operational tasks, counseling and testing sessions, experience how their paeditric clinic works, work in the community to provide HIV testing and counselling , and learn more about the current progress and trends related to HIV in Zambia while attending the National Paediatric ART Review Conference hosted by the Ministry of Health and EGPAF.
Children in the community
Children in the community
Volunteering with Tiny Tim & Friends as a student of Public Health at Tulane University, I've been able to put many of the skills I've learned in the classroom into practice.  After completing research and analysis of the 2013-2014 Zambia Demographics and Health Survey, it’s quite promising to see the rates of HIV transmission steadily decreasing throughout the country while the number of people receiving life-saving anti-retroviral treatment has continued to grow over the last several years.  I see these numbers as a reminder as to why organizations like TTF are so important in the fight against AIDS.  The dedicated staff members at TTF and the gracious donors supporting their work, are creating positive change on a daily basis within communities in desperate need of just that.  In a country where one in every 13 children dies before reaching their fifth birthday, it often can be difficult to recognize that progress is in fact occurring.

Read More
0 Comments

11 COUNSELORS, 14 DAYS, 6341 INDIVIDUALS TESTED

3/25/2015

0 Comments

 
In Lusaka, Zambia it is estimated by the Ministry of Health that almost 1 in 5 people are living with HIV. Individuals knowing their status and getting access to treatment (ART) is essential to prevent HIV transmission. 

At the end of last year TTF  undertook 14 intensive days community outreaches in Chibolya, one of the most economically deprived areas of Lusaka. With a team of 10 counselors lead by our Social Worker, Noah Kampengele, we worked in the community going door to door to talk to people in the privacy of their homes about HIV, testing 6,341 individuals, identifying 217 HIV people and registering 116 HIV+ children and adolescents into the TTF Clinic.  
Noah on a community outreach
Noah and his team at a house in Chibolya
Noah talked about some of the challenges and successes he and his team experiences over this grueling 2 weeks. 

"KNOWING THAT WE CAN SAVE A CHILD'S LIFE 
IS WHY WE DO THIS WORK."


Testing on community outreach
One of our counselors providing VCT.
What is it like in Chibolya? 
Chibolya compound originated from the migration of people from different places around Zambia in search of greener pastures, but basically ended up being a hiding place for armed robbers, drug dealers and prostitutes. There are basically no facilities there, especially health, education and police presence. The houses have no order and most don't have house numbers. This means finding your way around and finding people can be really difficult. 

When TTF do outreaches do you only focus on children? 
No, not at all, we test entire families and individuals who request it.

Read More
0 Comments

SOCIAL ISSUES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN LUSAKA

3/11/2015

2 Comments

 
One of TTF's social workers, Lonely.
Lonely, getting ready to go down to the clinic in our vehicle.
Lonely, is one of our Social Workers and Adherence counselors at TTF. He runs our clinic and interacts with young people on a daily basis. He see's every day the issues that the young people living with HIV are facing. In celebration of National Youth Day in Zambia we interviewed him about some of the problems young people face and how TTF can help. 

Why do you think that it’s important to recognise National youth day and what will you be doing on the day?
It is an important day to recognise because in a Zambian the youth are the majority and form the highest part of the population. Whatever is going on in employment, volunteering, bus drivers, they are all young people – youth day gives people an opportunity to reflect on their lives, and what they want to do.

 I will be sharing my day with the senior citizens, 65 and above – and try to find out about life, how life was, before independence  compared how life is now. I want to know how they used to treat each other, to talk about issues which are happening with young people today and find out from them how it was and how we can move forward. 

In Zambia females aged 14-29, orphans and vulnerable children are the most at risk of contracting HIV and. An estimated 80,000 – 100,000 HIV+ adolescents (older than 14) are not currently on treatment. What more do you think TTF can be doing to help address this issue?
Most young people are on social media – TTF need to work on a social media and social work side, having a Q&A page where individuals can post questions. We need to make sure young people are given the opportunity to understand the organisation and what we can offer. This could be done through advertising our clinic and services.
    
TTF also need to continue our outreaches and focus on young people and adolescents. Young people will then understand what we stand for and HIV. We also need to strengthen our women groups, coming up with a system of referrals for young people. By doing these three things we are catching people on Facebook, in the community and in an urban setting. 

Read More
2 Comments

2014, A year in Numbers...

12/3/2014

0 Comments

 
What we have achieved in 2014
0 Comments
<<Previous
    DONATE >>

      sign up to our newsletter

    Subscribe >>

    FOLLOW US: 

    RSS Feed


    archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2019
    November 2018
    April 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014


    Categories

    All
    Birth
    Children
    Community Outreach
    Counselling
    Death
    Donations
    Dr Tim Meade
    Fundraising
    Grief
    HIV
    HIV Negative Children
    HIV Testing
    Loss
    Lusaka
    Nutrition
    PMTCT
    Tiny Tim & Friends
    TTF Clinic
    TTF Partnerships
    TTF Women's Groups
    Volunteer
    Women's Rights
    Young People And Adolescents
    Zambia

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from DFID - UK Department for International Development, kennethkonica
  • Home
  • Donate Online
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • HIV/AIDS - Know the Facts
    • Our People
    • Our Partners
  • What we do
    • Who We Help
    • TTF Clinic
    • Community Outreaches
    • Counselling/ Support Groups
    • EMTCT
    • Nutritional Support
    • Palliative Care
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer opportunities
    • Fundraise for TTF
    • Give a Gift in Kind
    • Work with us
  • TTF Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Contact TTF Zambia
    • Contact TTF USA
    • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Donate
  • Work with us