Impact Blog

Subscribe
Peer educator training for MSM
Feb
13

In Cabo Delgado, the northern most province of Mozambique, ten men gathered at the Global Health Communication (GHC) office in Pemba to participate in a peer educator training for men who have sex with men (MSM). The training was conducted by GHC, with support from the Project VIDAS consortium members Populations Services International, Pathfinder International, and LAMBDA, a Mozambican advocacy group for sexual minorities.

As part of the Project VIDAS, GHC works with four groups recognized as being at high risk of HIV: MSM, drug users, sex workers and miners and their wives. The training in Pemba was the start of the second round of peer education training designed specifically for MSM conducted by GHC and was the result of a successful collaboration between GHC and LAMBDA. GHC and LAMBDA worked together to merge their materials and training agendas in order to cover in one week all relevant information for MSM and necessary skills for Project VIDAS peer educators. The training itself was conducted by facilitators from both GHC and LAMBDA, with support from Pathfinder...

More
Training the trainers for local organizations in Maxixe
Aug
29

In Maxixe town, Inhambane province, Mozambique, eleven representatives from local organizations working on HIV/AIDS attended Global Health Communication’s (GHC) three-day training of trainers. During this training, GHC introduced participants to the general concepts of behavior change and the behavior change tools that GHC uses when training peer educators and when conducting Pathways to Change and RAMP.

Participants were excited about the content of our training, not only for use in their HIV-related work, but also in the ways that it could be applied to their own lives. Learning some of the underlying principles of behavior change and the techniques GHC uses to motivate change increased their appreciation for the challenges that at-risk and marginalized groups face. A representative from Lambda, a Mozambican organization for sexual minorities, shared this perspective: “I was there earlier this year and observed when the peer educators were being trained, but I did not understand how important or effective the tools were until I went through this training myself. As an...

More
Peer educator training for drug users
May
16

In April and May, GHC held trainings for peer educators who use drugs in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces.

This was the first time the trainings were based on our revised curriculum, created in close cooperation with the PSI Consortium, Rede Contra Drogas, and Dr. Eugenia Teodora of the mental health department of Mozambique. Dr. Antonio Suleman from the Psychiatric Hospital was also there as a facilitator in Nampula. The training topics included different types of drugs and their effects, how drugs impact health, harm reduction, and issues related to overdose.

The training was considered unique by the participants who felt they now had a vocabulary and a structure to carry out their work as peer educators. In particular, how to handle an overdose situation struck a real chord with all of the participants. Several people told us that they had friends who had come close or actually died of an overdose. Our peer educators now know what to do in this emergency situation.

We also learned from the training that in Nampula heroin and cocaine are commonly used....

More
GHC employee of the year!
Mar
01

Firmino Abilio came to GHC in May of 2011 from AFRICARE and the International Food Policy Research Institute. Since his arrival in our Maputo office, Firmino has been an instrumental member of our team. Responsible for logistics and procurement, Firmino makes sure that all GHC activities run smoothly. In addition to great administrative and logistics skills, Firmino has a natural gift for languages and helps translate documents and concepts on a regular basis. He is dedicated and hard working and—just as important—Firmino always brings a smile to the office. He has been a true pleasure to work with.

Therefore, to show our deep admiration and appreciation of Firmino for all of his hard work and friendship, we have awarded him the title Employee of the year 2011!

From all the staff at GHC, we thank you and we look forward to continuing to work with you.

More
GHC Launches New Website
Feb
01

GHC is very proud to announce the launch of our new website located at www.ghcomm.org! The new site is a comprehensive overview of our work with special attention placed on our unique approach to behavior change in health and social interventions.

As part of the site, GHC will publish Impact Blog, a window into GHC’s activities, events and success stories. Comments, feedback and questions are welcome. 

We are very excited to share our work and our passion with the world. 

Subscribe

More