“The nurse explained everything about how PrEP works. She gave me the confidence to protect my health.”
Nordina Amade is a 22-year-old Islamic student from Mocubela District in Zambézia Province dedicated to protecting her health. She has faced unique challenges in a community with inadequate sex education due in part to the religious principles that shape views on HIV/AIDS prevention. Nordina has faced stigma and restrictions in her attempts to access reproductive health information and services. Specifically, condoms and other forms of contraception were strongly discouraged. Nordina felt that she might be at risk for contracting HIV. The situation in her community began to change with the implementation of community mobilization activities led by FGH, in partnership with the faith-based organization Conselho Cristão de Moçambique [Christian Council of Mozambique] (FBO-CCM), which works with both Christian and Islamic organizations and leaders. FBO-CCM activists convened community dialogues, attended health fairs, provided lectures at both community and religious gatherings, and engaged religious leaders serving on local health committees, with an emphasis on HIV testing referrals.
“The health training that we benefit from through FGH contributes to changing mentalities and improving the lives of our community. Today, we are religious leaders and guides of knowledge, we help to disseminate the wisdom necessary to promote the health and well-being of our community,” Sheikh Sulemane, an Islamic leader in Zambézia Province and member of CISLAMO (the Islamic Council of Mozambique).
Islamic leaders in Nordina’s community gradually began to promote sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention during religious events. It was during one such event that Nordina first heard about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
“I had never heard of PrEP until that talk at the Mocubela mosque,” Nordina told us.
Inspired by that educational session, she sought out the female religious leader who led the talk and was referred to the local health facility, where she received detailed guidance on PrEP from a healthcare worker, Nurse Ana Caice.
Nurse Caice has been a dedicated presence for young people at HIV and STI prevention appointments at the SAAJ (Friendly Services for Adolescents) of Mocubela Sede Health Facility. She has been a valuable asset in promoting health among adolescents and youth in the community. After Nordina tested negative for HIV, Nurse Caice was there to guide her through PrEP initiation.
“The nurse explained everything about how PrEP works,” Nordina explained.
“She gave me the confidence to protect my health.”
Since then, Nordina has become the first PrEP beneficiary referred by FBO-CCM at the Mocubela Sede Health Facility. Nurse Caice confirms that Nordina is not the only one. She has seen the uptake of PrEP among young people in the Islamic community gradually increase, thanks to the ongoing work of FGH supported FBO-CCM activists. They not only educate religious leaders about the effectiveness of PrEP in HIV prevention, but also combat the stigma associated with HIV by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
The partnership between FGH and FBO-CCM is supported by PEPFAR/CDC funding, which has been critical to the success of these initiatives. Through this collaboration, it has been possible to improve access to reproductive health and HIV prevention services of the local population, representing a significant advance in the fight against the HIV epidemic.