TINY TIM AND FRIENDS
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FIVE YEARS OF WORK TOWARDS ENDING HIV TRANSMISSION FROM MOTHER TO CHILD

11/18/2018

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Infographic on ending transmission
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A SIMPLE HAMPER OF EQUIPMENT CAN CHANGE A LIFE

11/18/2018

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Mother and Baby at the TTF Clinic
Many people don't realize that it is totally possible for a woman living with HIV to have a healthy, HIV negative baby. If we can get a woman on HIV treatment early enough into her pregnancy, we can suppress the virus within her body, reducing the risk of HIV transmission to Zero. 

Over the past two years our prevention of mother to child transmission program has been 100% successful, with no child being born with HIV when we have got the mother onto treatment at least three months prior to deliver.

Many government clinics lack basic supplies for women during labor, meaning women are either denied access to the facility or have an increased risk of complications during pregnancy due to basic supplies not being available. Our birthing hampers can be life changing, being the difference between a woman giving with at home, or safely in a facility. 

Charity with her birthing hamper
Just $50 can provide a simple hamper of medical supplies, diapers, blankets, disinfectant, scalpels, gloves umbilical clips,  and chitenges (fabric), can provide the right tools at a clinical level for a mother to have a safe birth.  

None of the work we do would be possible without your support. Because of you Babies can be born HIV free. Because of you children can get onto treatment and live long healthy lives.

​HIV treatment does work and you are making it possible for people to be healthy, happy and live long lives. 

Please continue to make this work possible by donating to Tiny Tim & Friends and give the gift of good health. ​

DONATE & HELP WOMEN HAVE SAFE BIRTHS >>

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

4/12/2018

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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
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WORKING WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO REACH THE MOST IN NEED

3/16/2016

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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. “

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SUPPORTING YOUNG WOMEN TO BECOME TEEN MENTORS

3/11/2015

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Sepiso helping out at our Christmas Party
Sepiso, helping out at our Christmas party.
Sepiso, 16, is a client at TTF. She is actively involved in our work and supporting our activities. She is one of our teen mentors and is always involved in our youth and children's support groups. Here she reflects on some of the challenges of growing up in Zambia how she would like to build a stable and sustainable future.  

Why do you think that it’s important to recognise National youth day and what will you be doing on the day?
It is important to recognise youth day because youth play an important role in the future of Zambia. They are at the forefront of change in Zambia. I will be home on youth day but think it’s important for people to recognise the day and think about the future.  

You are involved in a lot of TTF support groups and act as a teen mentor – why do you feel it is important for you to be involved in this way – what drives you to want to be involved?
I want to help others who have lost hope, I want them to have hope and acknowledge their status in a positive way. I want to share stories and experiences as I think this can really help young people and children who are HIV+.

I like working with TTF because it’s a great opportunity to meet so many people and make some really good friends. 

What do you see as the different struggles for young women vs that of young men?
Prostitution is an issue for women. It is much easier for men to find casual work and employment than women. Women find themselves having not many options so have to turn to prostitution to make money and provide for their families and make money for food.

Also early marriages are an issue for women. Young women and girls often don’t have a choice whether they get married because of the environment in which they are living in pushes them to early marriage either for stability or because their family want them to.


Oh and peer pressure! Peer pressure is also a major issue for young people in Lusaka, leading to people doing things they don’t always want to.

If you could have any job in the world in the future  – what would it be and why?
I would like to be a doctor – because I want to help people!
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TTF Founder, Betty Meade, talks about the importance of International Women's Day.

3/8/2015

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Betty on her last trip to Zambia.
Betty on her last trip to Zambia.
Betty Meade, is a pivotal women in the TTF story as she helped to found the NGO. Read her thoughts on how why it is important for us to recognise women's empowerment though International Women's Day. 
Why do you think it’s important to recognise international womens day?
Women all over the world need to recognize that they are important.  I have been in Zambia on International Women’s Day and have seen the Zambian women marching down the street.  They are smiling, friendly, unified and proud as they should be all year long.


 
What are some of the main differences and similarities you see between women in the US and in Zambia?

I would hope that more and more Zambian women would realize that they have a voice of their own, to speak up for their own rights and beliefs.  Some women in the U.S. have realized this to an extreme.  Zambian and U.S. women have huge hearts and want nothing but the best for their children, whether they can provide those things or not.


You helped to found TTF to support women and children with HIV, how important do you think our programmes are in supporting women in Lusaka?
The TT&F programs – especially the PMTCT program, help the women to realize that they can give birth to a healthy baby despite the HIV status of the mother.


 If you could make or see one change in Zambia for the women we support at TTF what would it be?
We would like to see the women of Zambia rise above the stigma of HIV and not be afraid to confront their husbands or partners or communities so that they would seek help, medicine and counseling through the TT&F program.

 Who do you see as one of the most impactful/ powerful women in history and why?
I see Mother Theresa and her Sisters in Zambia as some of the most powerful women in history.  I have seen firsthand the work they do in Zambia for the poorest of the poor with no fanfare, publicity, or modern day comforts. 

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Recognising strong, young women on International Women's Day

3/8/2015

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International Women's Day
*Please note names have been changed to protect identities.
TTF Zambia interviewed one of our previous clients, Anna* to hear about some of the issues she faces as a young woman, trying to forge a successful career in Zambia. 
Are you going to be doing anything to recognise international women’s day/ why do you think it is important to recognise international women’s day?
International Women’s Day is important because it’s a way of motivating women and empowering us. It’s also a way of everyone recognising the importance and presence of women in the country. If I am not going to be picked to be among the people who are going match on this day I will be working.

What are some of the main issues you think Zambian women face?
The main issues I think of are gender based violence and rape. In work related issues women are often put aside in decision making and some can’t be given high positions because certain roles are reserved for men. For example in politics a women is overlooked to be a president over that of a man.


How well do you feel TTF support women and equality for women?
TTF support women’s rights to good health so much. You could also do more by empowering women in business to help the government with issues of poverty and unemployment. This can be done by making contracts with them which will make them give back something with that same business than just waiting to receive something either food or money.

You work in an industry that is primarily male focused, how easy do you think it is for women to succeed in different careers today?
It’s difficult because it’s not every woman who succeeds its 10% for women and 90% for men. Once given an opportunity women can easily do just a good a job as men.

However women are also overloaded with a lot of house chores. An example is when a woman has to make sure the house is in order before leaving for work in the morning - she makes sure she puts water for a man to bath, prepares the children for school, cleans and tidies and by the time she is reaching work she is already tired. Men don’t understand this and makes women not supported in issues of career.

Men are not good implementing what has been agreed upon e. g family planning and work. You would agree to have children in the next five years but a man will just say “I want us to have a child” and as women you can’t change that - if you’re in college you have to wait for a while to continue; if you have a job he will just say “I want you to stop working” and you have to stop.

If you could make one law to support women’s right and equality what would it be?
Equal opportunities for all and the law’s supporting women’s rights to be respected – this should be included in all laws.
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Supporting strong mothers on International Women's day 2015

3/8/2015

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International Women's Day
*Please names and images have been annonymised to protect our Clients identities.
To celebrate International Women's Day 2015, TTF interviewed three strong women from our community - read about one of the TTF Mother's thoughts on why its important to celebrate International Women's Day and some of the issues she faces as a woman in Zambia: 
Are you going to be doing anything to recognise international women’s day/ why do you think it is important to recognise international women’s day?
I will be doing nothing as I have to look after my family, but it is important for us to recognise the day because we are the mothers for everyone.

What are some of the main issues you think Zambian women face?
Gender based violence is the biggest issue women in Zambia face.

What more would you like to see TTF do to support women in the community?
By helping them to think about how to raise for money for business and taking them for training on HIV and how to support their families.
What are some of the main problems you see the fellow mothers at TTF and in the community facing?
Stigma around HIV - Women should come out and talk about the things they are facing and not just keep what they are going through to themselves. We have a support group but people are still scared of stigma. By sharing it helps women to understand they aren’t alone and to give us a stronger voice. 



If you could change one thing in Zambia to help support women’s equality, what would it be and why?
Have a woman as president!

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  • Home
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    • Counselling/ Support Groups
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  • Get Involved
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    • Fundraise for TTF
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