foUrth quarter OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020 hptn 084 excites Cabotegravir injection is nine times more superior to oral truvada for HIV prevention

HPTN 084 protocol co-chair Prof. Mina Hosseinipour and some HPTN 084 team members during a press briefing held on November 11 2020.

esearchers from the HIV Prevention important for HIV prevention in women as they Trials Network (HPTN) announced on could have a potentially discrete method to use. RNovember 9, 2020 data from the HPTN “Because it’s (cabotegravir) an injection, they 084 clinical trial indicated that a pre-exposure can do this without necessarily engaging their prophylaxis (PrEP) regimen of long-acting partner; they can make independent decions. cabotegravir (CAB LA) injections once every There is no pill they have to store, which might eight weeks was safe and superior to daily oral be concerning to them, and they don’t have to tenofovir/emtricitabine (FTC/TDF) for HIV remember to take the pill everyday,” she said, prevention among cisgender women in sub- adding that the injectable could really make life Saharan Africa. easy for women. The HPTN 084 study was done in She said in the two arms of the study for 20 sites in 7 countries in Sub-Saharan cabotegravir injection and Truvada pills, those Africa namely: , Botswana, taking pills had a little bit more gastrointestinal Eswatini, Kenya, South Africa, upset and nausea than those receiving the Uganda and . injection. Those receiving the injection further had In Malawi the study was done some site reactions like pain and tenderness. in by UNC Project and Commenting on the study results research in Blantyre by the John Hopkins medical officer for the HPTN 084 study at UNC Research Project. 111 and 113 Project-Malawi, Dr. Thandie Lungu Mabedi participants were enrolled described the results as worth celebrating. Some of the in Lilongwe and Blantyre, “The results are revolutionary, special thanks media members respectively. to our study participants and the research team for during the Prof. Mina Hosseinipour, HPTN taking part in this transformative discovery in HIV briefing. 084 protocol co-chair, professor prevention amongst women.” Photos: Callisto Sekeleza of medicine at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel UNC Project recently made five presentations in Hill School of Medicine and a virtual meeting - 14th International Conference Scientific Director of UNC Project- on HIV Treatment, Pathogenesis and prevention Malawi told local press that Research in Resource-Limited Settings: (INTEREST results from the study were really 2020) held from 30 November - 4 December 2020.

Fleming Fund: shines in Grateful parents Bacteriology integrating depression of Charlie Scholars 2 laboratory staff 3 services into the NCD 7 speak. oriented Clinic 12 TIDZIWE POST FOURTH QUARTER 2020 Five presentations from UNC Project at INTEREST 2020 UNC Project recently made five presentations in a virtual meeting - 14th International Conference on HIV Treatment, Pathogenesis and prevention Research in Resource- Limited Settings (INTEREST 2020) held from 30 November - 4 December 2020. The annual INTEREST Conference is the premier scientific conference for HIV in Africa and brings together scientists involved in HIV treatment, pathogenesis, and prevention research from around the world. The conference showcases cutting-edge knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV Facilitators and participants on 20 October 2020 during a bacteriology SOP training at Mponela. and the prevention of the HIV- 1 infection. It also aims to foster building a community of African physicians and scientists to facilitate the implementation of local Fleming Fund Country Grant solutions for the management of patients living with HIV-1 infection and for the prevention of HIV Bacteriology laboratory staff oriented transmission. The five presentations made aboratory staff doing not put into practice, goes down the during the virtual conference were: microbiology under Fleming drain fast,” he said. 1. Early Experiences of Switching Project Fund national grant on anti- Speaking during the same event, Manager to Dolutegravir in Women Enrolled L microbial resistance in humans and Dr. Joseph Nkhoma, desk officer Gerald in Option B+, Malawi, presented by animals were advised to put into for antimicrobial resistance in the Tegha Allan Jumbe. practice lessons they learnt during department of animal health, also presenting 2. Maternal Tenofovir Exposure during the in Pregnancy and Risk of Preterm a series of workshops held in the advised the participants to follow the September Delivery Among Women Living months of September and October at SOPS and save time. training. with HIV in Malawi presented by Mponela in Dowa. “Let’s remind each other the Friday Saidi. Speaking during one of the right way of doing things. If we 3. Pregnant Women at Higher bacteriology standard operating don’t collect the right samples (for Risk of Hepatotoxicity When procedure (SOP) workshops held bacteriology tests), the results will Initiating TDF/3TC/EFV in Malawi from 19 to 23 October 2020, Dr. also not be right,” he said. presented by Emmanuel Singogo Danny Chinombo from Lilongwe The training tackled the 4. Test and Treat, The Dilemma of University of Agriculture and following topics, among others: the Woman in Antenatal Care in Natural Resources (Luanar) said culture protocols, identification of Malawi presented by Jennifer Tseka they were interested in three main organisms, anti-biotic mechanisms 5. Pooling Sputum Samples for GeneXpert Tb Testing in HIV types of bacteria. He added that it of resistance, antimicrobial Positive Women in Lilongwe, was a concern that poultry and daily susceptibility testing, introduction Malawi: A Cost-Saving Method animals received more antibiotics to to new culture protocols, storage of presented by Jonathan Majamanda. fight bacteria. isolates, inventory management and He advised the participants to introduction to database software take the lessons they would get from for management and analysis of the session seriously. microbiology laboratory data. “Anything which is learned but is

This is an in-house publication. Its mission is to promote a sense of community by communicating information relevant and vital to the operations and staff of UNC Project Malawi. In a drive to increase participation and bring variety to the publication, all UNC Project staff are free and encouraged to contribute articles in this publication. Write ups are welcome in the range 400 – 600 words for event stories and a maximum of 1000 words for other more technical issues worth sharing.

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Communications Facilitators and participants on 29 September 2020 during a similar meeting. TIDZIWE POST FOURTH QUARTER 2020 13 Mulanje shines in integrating depression services into the NCD Clinic

A photo occassion for the review meeting participants. Below: A representative from Mulanje shows the gitt.

ulanje District Hospital implemented for their perseverance The five-year project is was on Friday 23 October especially when there was a general operational in ten health facilities M2020 recognized by UNC slowdown of activities in many in Karonga, Chilumba, Kasungu, Project-Malawi for its outstanding sectors because of the COVID-19 Salima, Mchinji, Lilongwe, role in integrating depression pandemic. Machinga, , Zomba and services at their non-communicable “It’s not easy to do your work Mulanje. diseases (NCD) clinic. under these circumstances,” he said. The study is This came under the Sub- Deputy Director of Clinical sponsored by the Saharan Africa Regional Partnership Services responsible for NCDs in the (SHARP) for Mental Health Ministry of Health Dr. Jones Masiye National Institute Capacity Building programme being also highlighted that there was need of Mental Health implemented in Malawi by UNC to lace up integration of depression (NIMH) at the Project under the title ‘A Clinic- into the NCD programmes. National Randomized Trial of Strategies “Literature is telling us that in a Institutes of to Integrate Depression Care in few years to come, many diseases Health (NIH) Malawi’. will have vaccines while the NCDs The goal of The recognition was made will remain just like they are,” he the study during a review meeting held said and further commended those is to have at UNC Project Annex Building districts which were doing better data grounds and through an award of than others in the project. that can a certificate and a wall clock to be Receiving the recognition Brenda help the used by staff at their base. Nkhonjera of Mulanje District Ministry During the meeting UNC Hospital thanked the project Project-Malawi Country Director management for the recognition. of Health to come up with Innocent Mofolo commended “We will continue working an action plan to be used to integrate all the stakeholders from the hard and we will also work on our mental health services into non- districts where the project is being challenges,” she said. communicable diseases.

In September UNC Project Laboratories installed George Joaki Research Centre sequencing analyzers at the PCR laboratory at the George Joaki Research Centre at Area 18. The installation runs were successful. According to Illumina, manufacturer of the iSeq set for DNA and RNA sequencing 100, one of the equipment to be used for sequencing, the system makes next-generation sequencing easier and more affordable than ever, allowing labs of all sizes to sequence DNA and RNA at the push of a button. The equipment will be used for a study that will generate important information about the etiology of possible serious bacterial infection (pSBI) and the epidemiology of bacterial anti-microbial resistance genes among young infants. Once aggregated into IDSeq (a global software platform that helps scientists identify pathogens in metagenomic sequencing data), it will allow for the comparison of resistance patterns between Malawi and other resource-limited settings. The machines were bought with funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s - Grand Challenge for a pilot study to support Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) activities in Malawi. Installation of the equipment and testing of samples in the project has been delayed because of the slowdowns due to COVID-19. Principal investigators in the study are Drs. Tisungane Mvalo and Emily Ciccone (Chapel Hill) while other investigators are Gerald Tegha, Msandeni Lab staff Isaac Thengolose (L) and Chimwemwe Chinyama (R) before the newly installed equipment. Chiume (KCH) and Pascal Lavoie (Canada). 4 TIDZIWE POST FOURTH QUARTER 2020 ‘Chief’ Kabota, others, retire n Friday 16 October 2020 UNC Project-Malawi bid Ofarewell Rankin Kabota, popularly known as ‘Chief’, who has served the institution for 20 years. Also celebrated in absentia during the ceremony were research nurse Sarah Mwambakulu who has also served the Project for 20 years and Elizabeth Mseula who has served as clinic aide for 17 years. Speaking during the farewell function Kabota said he was thankful to UNC Project for entrusting him with responsibilities. “I am very grateful for what management and all members of UNC Project-Malawi have done to me. I will not forget. You have done something good to me. I had many challenges but once I came to you, you advised me what to do,” he said. He said because of approachability of managers and supervisors, he managed to solve Rankin Kabota receiving a gift from Country Director Innocent Mofolo and Associate Country Director Debbie Kamwendo various challenges and managed to achieve a number of things. Mofolo. However, a cheerful Kabota said He added that such long service he felt it was early for him to retire and interaction with all staff spoke as he had fond memories of the volumes of dedication and maturity. Project. “You have been a father figure “If I was able to turn back the and interacted with the younger hands of time; adjust the retirement ones. A lot of people have a lot to time, I would still love to be here,” learn from the way you conducted he said. yourself,” he said. UNC Project-Malawi Country Human Resources Manager Director Innocent Mofolo told George Bonomali came into the Kabota that UNC Project-Malawi UNC Project loop after an ‘employee was highly indebted to him for his scavenger hunt’. dedication since the year 2000. “We asked people to give us He said, Kabota, just like the names of the potential office assistant others, had been part of the history and surprisingly the name of ‘Rankin of UNC Project-Malawi Kabota’ kept coming out. When we Kabota cuts the ‘retirement’ cake. asked why the name was coming up, “You have been with the project Both Mwambakulu and Mseula management and each one of you somebody said the guy had good through its growth when UNC (in absentia) also dedicated for the support you have given me reputation. Project-Malawi’s had only 21 themselves to UNC Project. We shall since I joined UNC Project on 15th “We sent messages to his place but employees. By the time that you are miss them, and we thank all of them. could not find him. We still hunted January 2001. Time has come that I leaving after 20 years, UNC Project- Meanwhile, after this occasion, for him until we found out that he have to retire and I thank God that I Malawi has almost 400 employees. Chief Nursing Officer Mary Kadiwa was in Mchinji and sent someone to have reached this far, all because of Of the many employees we have, retired on 30 November 2020 after send the message to him. Mr. Kabota we can say there is nobody who serving the Project for 20 years. your support and team work,” she came the following day,” he said. can say they don’t know you, said “I would like to thank said. TIDZIWE POST FOURTH QUARTER 2020 5 PICTORIAL FOCUS winding up the year

Deputy Director in the Ministry of Health who is also responsible for NCDs, Dr. Jones Masiye addressing participants during the SHARP review meeting held on 23 October 2020. LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!: Dr. Thandi Lungu (right) and media personnel in TV programme shooting in the aftermath of release of the HPTN 084 results.

Cross section of the DACC in the Tidziwe WOMEN NEED CHOICES!: Tchangani Tembo addressing the Lilongwe District AIDS EXPLAINING COVID-19 Lecture Hall listening to presenters. Coordinating Committee (DACC) on 18 November in the Tidziwe Lecture Hall on the STUDIES: Dr. Terence Tafatatha positive outlook of the vaginal microbicide ring for HIV prevention. presenting to the DACC.

A PARTING SHOT: UNC Project staff (in March 2020) flanking breast cancer awareness activist Blandina Khondowe (in pink) who died in November 2020. She was a familiar face to many at UNC Project because of her activities like the Think Pink – Malawi campaign for breast cancer awareness. She was the founder of Hope for Cancer Foundation. Ccntruction underway for rooms to be used for COVID-19 related studies at the Inset: Blandina Mlenga in a video shooting on breast cancer awareness George Joaki Research Centre at Area 18. produced by the UNC Lineberger Malawi Cancer Centre in 2018. 6 TIDZIWE POST FOURTH QUARTER 2020 Charlie Scholars Inaugural Class, 2020

GrSix pupils (threea girls teand three boys)f fromul Dzama communityfam were in Septemberilies classes, all the spe children will receiveak individual tutoring in English, Composition, and awarded scholarships to study away from home in boarding facilities under the Math. banner ‘Charlie Scholars’ in remembrance of Charles van der Horst who died in UNC Project management said they hoped the educational opportunities 2019. The three girls are now at the Lilongwe Nazarene Private School and the being provided to the six would lead to happier lives for them. Other pupils from three boys at the Victoria Gardens Private School. In addition to their regular the area are expected to benefit from the scholarships in coming years. ‘The people who are driving this initiative are We could not have afforded such like my parents now’ –Evidence’s mother school fees -Liviness’ parents n the interior of Mkoka village, Maria engages in farming up to now though at Sosola, Evidence’s mother was born an insignificant scale to meet her needs Iin 1984. She went to school in the and those of her family. same area at Magwero Primary School Maria has been a single mother but her future was thrown in turmoil. having divorced her husband a year She dropped out halfway through the after Evidence was born in 2005. After primary school lane. her initial divorce, she has been in other Today she is proud to see her second marital relationships which never saw born child receive a scholarship to study the light of the day. at a boarding school. In her life she never “Life is not easy. At the moment I just thought this opportunity would land on grow and sell vegetables,” she says. any of her immediate family members. The mother of five says she does all “I am so glad that Evidence got this the work at the garden and during the opportunity to study at a boarding maize growing season she normally school. You can imagine, I could not harvests an average of 6 bags weighing even afford to pay for school fund at the 50 kilos each. local school where he used to learn,” Her first child is into casual work, says the single mother. selling meat snacks in the village square Maria says it was actually one of the while the other siblings are learning at teachers at Evidence’s former school Nafutsa Primary School in the village. who felt her plight and contributed to The mother looks at Evidence’s the welfare of her son through financial chance to have the scholarship as a ray of support. hope for her family. s he sits on the verandah of his third born child had been awarded She says she still has not fathomed At the age of 15, her son dreams of a house beside his wife, Maxwell a scholarship to study at an admired how she can express her gratitude to the bright future and is eager to utilize the Magombo reminisces how he school within Lilongwe, the family well-wishers who have come up with scholarship opportunity. A dropped out of school in class 8 because were above the moon. this initiative. “I was so happy to hear the news of lack of financial support to cater Says Maxwell: “I was very happy to “I just don’t know how. The people about the scholarship because I would for his needs. He would have loved to receive this good news. Nobody from who are driving this initiative are like be studying at a new place. When I continue with education which would my background has ever been awarded my parents now,” adds Maria. complete my studies, I would like open up other opportunities for him but a scholarship.” When she dropped out of to be a medical doctor because I that was never to be. Maxwell is full of praise for the school in class 4, she did want to help sick people,” he Today his family cherishes the academic performance of his daughter: not do anything out of the says. scholarship their 13-year-old daughter, “She does well in class. Ever since she ordinary apart from helping When at home his Liviness, has received. She is the third started primary school, she has always her family with household hobbies include playing born child in a family of four. been in three top positions,” she says. chores and farming. She football and making Both Maxwell and his wife are 41 He says the family could not afford baskets. and in their married life they have been to pay K267,000 (Liviness’ current subsistence farmers. school fees) per term for any of their “We usually grow vegetables which four children. we sell at the nearby Dzibweze Market “Actually I have never even got this in Area 25,” says Ezelina, Maxwell’s amount in my life,” he says. wife. Liveness’s mother, is equally still In a good day they make sells stunned with her daughter’s leap from amounting to K4000 (about $5.28) a community school to a boarding which just helps them to get some of school. their basic needs. “When I heard the news, I couldn’t During the main growing season believe it. I was so happy. We could which is locally rain-fed, the family not have afforded to do that for our is able to get at least 40 bags of maize daughter or for the rest of the children,” weighing 50 kilos each. she rejoices. The family stays in a brick house The Christian family is thankful to roofed with iron sheets but devoid of God for this opportunity for Liviness proper finishing for longevity. which gives hope to a good future for Upon hearing news that their her and the entire family. We lacked the money – Prisca’s mother risca’s father, Maxwell Kanyama and mother, Primary School within the area and will be Eunice Patrick, came to Dzama in 2005 and sitting for Primary School Leaving Certificate Pmostly survive through providing casual Examinations in 2021. labour services. Basic life is ill affordable for this Having passed through various tribulations four-member family. Prisca comes from a quite religious background. Sitting on the edges of her house, Eunice One of her hobbies is actually reciting Bible verses. laments that they even have no garden of their “When Prisca is not doing this, she sometimes own. This may be not quite surprising for recent participates in netball games at the village comers in the village. The family has once tried to ground,” says her mother. keep some livestock but it did not work. The family sees Prisca’s scholarship as an “We normally do casual work. My husband opening of good things to come in future. They does that within the Kanengo industrial area and believe that this opportunity is God given and I normally work in other people’s gardens,” says through it, their life may change. the 32-year old mother. “We all like reading the Bible because we want Her background made it hard for her to believe God to lead our lives and help us in our needs,” the good news that her second born child, Prisca, she says. had received a scholarship to study in a better At 12 years of age Prisca feels so lucky to have school away from the village. been awarded this scholarship. “This was news well received. It has never “I would like to be a lawyer later in life. happened before in my life experience,” she says I would like to stand up for people in trials. adding that many people in the area lack money Currently in the village court, we, young ones, are for school fees especially at secondary school level not allowed to spectate but I would want to even while for others within the free primary education help in judging cases when I grow up.” system, even lack money to contribute to the In a previous school term before joining her school development fund. new school, Prisca passed well at position number Prisca’s sibling is at the nearby Magwero 3. She likes Mathematics and English. TIDZIWE POST SECOND QUARTER 2019 7 Charlie Scholars Inaugural Class, 2020 Other village kids Even the chief of this village is also excited. – Harrison’s father inwell Davidson, 48, has been Dzama. are now motivated around the Dzama community Binwell says that his entire for six years having arrived household is quite happy that one of B them has landed this opportunity. - Ethel’s parents there in 2014 from other sojourns. “This brings joy to our family. argaret Mayimba, Ethel’s mother, Life to him, in the visibly low income We could not even think of our son believes that many people in her household, has been normal since going to study somewhere under a fully paid for scholarship. We could village are uneducated because they that is what a majority of fellow M villagers live like day in and day not afford to do that under any lacked school fees or scholarships to pursue out – surviving on less than one US circumstance,” he expresses his joy. education. Binwell believes that the entire It is against such background that dollar in day. profile of his village has been Margaret is very thankful for the opportunity However, gods raised. On top of that, other seem to have turned that her daughter Ethel got under the Charlie school going children have in his favour when Scholars sponsorship programme. been motivated so that he heard that his they too may get similar “When I heard about Ethel’s selection as second born child one of the beneficiaries of the scholarship recognition and support. had been awarded a “I would say most programme, I felt very good. This is scholarship to study people are seemingly something strange to happen in our village,” in a better school happy and even the chief of she says. away from the village. this village is also excited by Margaret, 52, believes her daughter is now Binwell says given his the news,” explains Binwell. a model for the village as other kids are now current financial situation he He is also full of praises for his motivated to receive a scholarship just as she could not afford to take his Harrison son’s hardworking spirit not just in did. to a better school. class but through arts and crafts and “We live a hard life. I work as According to the mother, Ethel is a book household chores. a casual labourer in construction worm. 15-year-old Harrison likes making sites and sometimes I work in brick baskets and also likes building. “When she finishes doing her household moulding sites or in gardens. The chores, she often locks herself so that she can During this visit his father pointed little that I get does not even suffice at an incomplete structure which his read,” says Margaret. basic necessities of life,” he says. son constructed around his home. The mother of five who is also a traditional The first born in the family, However, Harrison himself says Harrison’s brother is deaf and dumb leader, responding to the name of Senior when he completes school, he would and the parents failed to take him to Village Headperson Malembe, believes like to be a secondary school teacher. education is key and is optimistic that her suitable education facilities which could help him acquire an education. “When I grow up I want to be a daughter has the chances to excel in life. primary or secondary school teacher. “Am so happy with this scholarship “He just stays at home and helps in household chores,” says Binwell, I like the exposure teachers get and because it gives us hope that Ethel will be adding his other children who came the way they establish connections able to complete her education. The materials after Harrison are also at school in with other people in society,” says that she will be using at her new school are the nearby Nafutsa Primary School at Harrison expensive such that we could not afford. Actually I have never used such in my life,” she says. To her, even the entire profile of her village has been raised because of the scholarship. Her positive sentiments are shared by her 68-year-old husband, Aliel Mayimba. “I was very happy when I heard the news about the scholarship and I am still happy up to now. May God bless those who are taking part in this scholarship arrangement,” he says. Ethels’ family is one of the luckiest families because among her siblings, two of them completed their secondary education while the other two are in the final grade of primary school. The family survives on subsistence farming. They grow maize and raise some livestock. Sometimes they also buy and resell livestock as a form of business. Expressing her gratitude before she joined school Ethel lauded the scholarship programme. This is very unforgettable - Chimwemwe’s parents “I am happy to receive this scholarship t is on a cloudy and wet afternoon Chimwemwe’s mother is optimistic because my parents would not have afforded and Madalitso Jackson and his that her son will do well in future. to send me to a boarding school. When I grow Iwife are sitting inside their three- “We have hope that he will help up I want to be a nurse and assist the sick. I roomed house. It just rained in uplift his siblings,” says Elizabeth, believe many things are possible if one gets what seemed to be first rains in the exuding a typical Malawian family educated,” she said. 2020-2021 growing season. The little expectation when a member manages rains bring hope of a good farming to excel academically or achieves in season soon to come. So does their other endeavors. son’s selection to study under a Chimwemwe’s three other siblings scholarship. are also still in primary school while Their 13-year-old son, the last born in the family is still Chimwemwe Madalitso, is among the breast feeding. six scholars sponsored to study under Apart from academic excellence in the ‘Charlie Scholars’ program. his previous school Chimwemwe is “We saw this as a vision that Seeing my son have the chance to an ardent player of football. things would be better for our son in excel academically makes me feel Although he likes football a lot, future. This is very unforgettable,” proud,” he says. Chimwemwe’s dream is not to be a says the father of five with Jackson says that his son has professional footballer but to work in Chimwemwe as the third born. been having outstanding academic a financial institution. The 40-year old dad is very proud performance since he started school “It is my hope that I will do well of his son because he himself did not and this gives him hope that upon and become a bank manager. I want go far with school. completion of his academic journey, to be counting money which people “I have been doing casual work he may realise his desires. bring and take out of the bank,” he after I dropped out of school in 1994. 37-year-old Elizabeth Bitoni, says. 8 TIDZIWE POST FOURTH QUARTER 2020

UNC project people

Please tell us about yourself? I am Fred Mavuto Chitema and was born in Mulanje on 19 June 1968 at Namulenga Mission Hospital. I grew up at Chenguwo Village in Traditional Authority Mkanda’s Fred mavuto Chitema area and went to Namulenga Boys Primary School from 1980 to 1986. community educator My parents were subsistence farmers and we relocated to Sharpe Valley in Ntcheu looking for farming land. Right now my home Village is Saiti in Traditional Authority Ganya’s area. I continued primary education from classes 6 to 8 at Sharpe Valley Primary School. I sat for primary school certificate exams twice and was selected to go to Ntcheu Secondary School on the second attempt. I did my school there from 1989 up to 1993. Before end of 1993 I joined the Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP) within the central region and even at Mtonda Training Base, where some parts of the northern region youths were gaining skills in various of Malawi like Mzuzu and Nkhata technical fields, and obtained a Bay. For some participants like those certificate in leadership. I stayed at in the Imbokodo study, we often the village in Ntcheu for a while and trace though phone. Just a few hours proceeded to Blantyre to look for Prof. Martinson’s house in Area 10. studies, I was sent back to Area 18 to ago, we were discussing logistical employment. I also rotated between Tidziwe and work for the HVTN 705 (Imbokodo) arrangements for a participant who I got my first job in 1994 at other UNC Project offices outside in 2018. Here I also multi-task within stays at Likoma Island. For your Southern Bottlers where I worked as Kamuzu Central Hospital. Then, I Imbokodo, Family Planning-ART information, in Imbokodo we have internal production clerk. I kept on used to see several vacancies being study and assist in participant’s participants who come from many applying for other jobs and in early released and I thought I could go recruitment, enrolment, participant corners of the country because their 1995 I got employed at Kandodo back to school and get some papers tracing and engaging stakeholders. nature is quite mobile. in community development. I Stores and worked at the main shop What are some of the challenges I wish I were a woman under this along Victoria Avenue as shop studied for a certificate and then a study so that I would cheat you that diploma. Administration also that you face in your roles? assistant. Sometimes I meet logistical I was at a far corner of the country In 1996 I was transferred to work guided me on what to study. In while in reality I was just within 2007 there was training vacancy challenges when I have to in Lilongwe. This was a tough time commute between the three Lilongwe! for me as many people discouraged at the Lighthouse for HIV No we can capture that. We have our counselling and I approached centres of Area 25, Area 18 and me to come and work in Lilongwe. Tidziwe. Transport may not own means of knowing if someone is Word was going around that management if they could lying about where they stay. On two sponsor me to enroll for be available to do all required Lilongwe was a very expensive place tasks within the intended occasions we have been able to catch to stay and I could not manage since the course. That was my those lying. turning point from the time. Often times I divide I was staying in fairly affordable city my time; like working of Blantyre. My first duty station security department to So what do you like to do in your counselling. for two days at Area free time? was Kandodo shop at Gulliver in 25, then two days Area 49 where I worked as shop I started working I like reading books and listening to as counselor at here at Area 18 and the radio. I also like going to church supervisor. The shop was doing then at Tidziwe. fine and I was transferred to a new CHAVI study. and swatching football. In 2009 I was shop at Malangalanga. Soon it was How do Are you married? transferred to you handle reported that my previous workplace Yes, I am married and we have two work at George challenges in at Gulliver was declining in boys and two girls. performance and I was moved back Joaki Centre the field like to Gulliver. at Area 18 for in terms of What food do you like to eat? At end of 1999 the Kandodo Stores the MAL 055, misconceptions? I like nsima or rice with chicken. was sold to a foreign company. It malaria vaccine I have observed was a sad situation and soon the trial, as field that sometimes Where do you see yourself in the company was declared bankrupt and clerk. Work at the sources of next five years? in November of same year many of the MAL 055 misconceptions I see myself preparing for retirement. us were retrenched. Many went back was tough as are people who Sometimes it’s good to see where to the village and I thought of staying we managed never qualified you are going. It’s not good to be in town to do some small businesses. to enroll 1620 as study reminded when time comes but you participants It was a tough situation to look participants need to be aware of that time on into the at expenses like rentals and daily and they go your own and prepare accordingly. study. I also got about creating necessities. I stayed for four years Preparations should start now to from 1999 to 2003 without any formal more experience issues to tarnish image avoid shocks when time comes. I also employment. in community of participants and the In 2003 one of the several engagement and organisation. When we like farming, having grown up in a applications I had made received also played role of are in the field meeting peasant family and I would love to positive feedback. That was UNC counsellor when need the communities, people continue that later in my life. Project. By the time I was coming arose. This study took at observe us and want to here I had good experience from the least four years. When it be sure we are really from Do have anything to say before we commercial sector but having stayed was over I was moved UNC Project. One always wind up? for four years, I was just looking for back to Tidziwe where needs to be professional I thank my team leader Nelecy any kind of employment. I joined I worked for MTN 020 when approaching such Chome, for her advice and assigning UNC Project on 20 February 2003 as community educator. people. me in various studies which has as a security officer, backed by the After the MTN 020, I’ve What’s the farthest place expanded my experience. I also certificate I obtained from MYP. been roving in various you have gone to trace thank management for their roles in My first duty station was at Prof studies where my skills study participants? the development of my career under Mina’s, guest house, in Area 14. were needed. After some I have been to many areas the community department. After some months I also worked at multi-tasking in various

UNC Project People is a regular feature in each issue of the Tidziwe POST. Do you know someone with anything interesting or unique at UNC Project? Please email your suggestions to [email protected] indicating name and department the individual is working in.