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

GOOD NUTRITION MEANS HAPPY, HEALTHY CHILDREN

5/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Last week we successfully graduated 8 children out of our nutrition programme after just 3 months. All 8 of these children had gained such a great amount of weight and grown in height that they are now well within the healthy weight range on the BMI index.

Through our nutrition programme, not only have we been able to support these vulnerable children to gain weight and become healthy, but we have also provided their families and caregivers with nutritional support and education needed to ensure that can help their children to have a well balanced diet. The weekly food packages have also allowed families to make small savings in their weekly outgoings to support several of them in investing into their small businesses or paying for school fees. 

Thanks to the support of 34 donors who funded our CARINGCROWD CrowdFunding programe at the end of last year. Please stay posted for individual stories on each of these children. 

For more information about our nutrition programme and how you can get involved in us helping even more malnourished, vulnerable children to get healthy and get the education they need check out our programme page: Nutrition programme. 
0 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

COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE A BIG CHANGE IN A CHILD'S LIFE

3/16/2016

1 Comment

 
Gladys, who you are supporting through our nutrition prorgamme
 We want to share with you the story of just one of the children, whose life has been changed thanks to everyone who donated, through CARINGCROWD, to our Nutrition programme. Gladys is 6 years old and was brought to the Tiny Tim & Friends Clinic last year by her grandmother who was concerned with a persistent cough and considerable weight loss. Upon testing it was discovered she was HIV+. Gladys weighed just 12kgs (26lbs) putting her below the 1st percentile on the BMI index and classifying her as considerably underweight.

Thanks to the donations of 34 people through CARINGCROWD, we were able to enroll Gladys into our Nutrition programme. After only one month on the programme Gladys had gained 4kgs (almost 9lbs) and now is considered as a very healthy weight (at the 78th percentile on the BMI index).

We spoke to her Grandmother, Janet, about the impact the food support and nutritional advice is having for her family: 
Janet, Gladys's grandmother and care giver
"I have cared for Gladys for most of her life, as both of her parents have died. I own the family home but we live there with 15 other family members, selling vegetables to make money for food - usually making about 300 kwacha a week to feed the entire family (less than $30). 

I took Gladys to the TTF clinic as I was worried about her weight and after speaking to a woman in the community thought she may be HIV+. The food we have been getting from TTF helps so much. Before we could only feed Gladys at breakfast and in the evening and now she has 3 meals a day and snacks. The food is also helping with her taking her medication which was previously making her sick when she took it without eating. 

We have always tried to make her go to school but since she has become sicker she was missing more and more. Now she has gained weight and is managing on her medication better so is going back to school. 

The nutritional talks are also helping me in thinking about how to care for Gladys and prepare her meals - I have also been sharing this with my daughters and supporting my other grandchildren with this knowledge. 

I am too thankful to this support and I try and encourage the younger mothers in the programme to think about how they are using the food to help their children gain weight and become more healthy like Gladys."

Gladys is just one of the children we are seeing significant changes in due to the nutritional support and education their families are receiving. Without your donations this would not have been possible. So thank you and please watch out for more updates on the children you are helping.
​
1 Comment

CELEBRATING A LIFE CHANGED

12/11/2015

1 Comment

 
Sometimes you try your hardest to make a change in a child's life and are unsuccessful - but when you are successful that is definitely worth celebrating and sharing with the world! 

Many of you may remember Everson, a 13 year old child who was brought to us last year suffering with extreme malnutrition, neglect, and a variety of other health issues. His story stuck with the staff at Tiny Tim & Friends due to the fact that when he arrived at our Clinic many of our staff prepared themselves for the worst. We worked hard with our partners at Our Ladies Hospice, to provide him emergency palliative care,  found him a stable safe home at MacDonalds Farm, and have continued to treat him over the past 18 months to make sure he can lead a healthy, productive life. 
​​
Everson when he first arrived at TTF Clinic
Everson after 5 months of palliative care
Everson after 3 weeks with TTF
Last week our social work team went to visit him at the Farm, to see how he was doing, and whilst he was showing them his vegetable garden he has been cultivating he said he would like to go back to Our Ladies Hospice, to thank the staff who helped him to recover over a year ago.
Everson showing off his vegetable garden
Everson at home
This week we went with Everson back to Our Ladies Hospice for an incredibly emotional and rewarding visit. None of this would have been possible if it wasn't for the hard work and dedication of the staff at Our Ladies Hospice; the nurturing environment and safe home he has at MacDonalds Farm; and  all of the TTF donors and supporters who enabled us  to provide 4 months of intensive palliative care and medical treatment at the TTF Clinic. 

So we want to share with you in this celebration and as a picture can say a thousand words - here are just some from our day: 
One of the Nurses embraces Everson after 18 months.
The first embrace from the nurses
The nurses reaction to seeing Everson for the first time in 18 months
The Clinician who worked with Everson
The catering ladies didnt recognise him at first
Celebrating how healthy Everson looks
Thanking the clinical administrator
Justin, TTF Director of Operations who worked with Everson over the past 18 months
Thank you to everyone who made this transformation possible - we are eternally grateful for your support and donations - without working in partnership none of this would have been possible!

​THANK YOU! 
1 Comment

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

WANT TO VOLUNTEER? THE UPS AND DOWNS OF WORKING IN DEVELOPMENT

10/20/2015

0 Comments

 
​Ever since I was in my early 20’s I have wanted to work in development. But getting into development is tough, people tell you to get practical experience, to get a masters, to learn another language, get a skill or trade, to forget about a skill get policy knowledge, to volunteer, to network.
 
There is no clear path in which to take – I worked for several different charities in the UK and eventually back in 2012  I decided I wanted to get practical experience in a developing country so applied to volunteer through VSO, and after a fast 5 months was on my way to Zambia. 
Idealistic me on how I thought development would be
The reality - spending your time stuck in traffic
The reality - spending most of your time trapped in an office, planning

Read More
0 Comments

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
Forward>>
    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