Fx’€¦ (A KNOCK ON A DOOR)

KHOPOTSO: The knock went unanswered even though it’€™s clear that someone is inside the house. They had earlier answered and said to go knock on the back door.

Fx’€¦ (A KNOCK ON A DOOR)

SAM MOSOGE: O a e bona problem eo re e tshwereng? Neng neng ha o kgutla, ba butse. Neng neng, jwalojwalo.

KHOPOTSO: Do you see the problem we’€™re facing? Sometimes they welcome you. And then at times they won’€™t let you in, says Sam Mosoge, a now greying former school teacher. These days he is the convenor of the Khomanani Community Action programme in Tumahole, a township in Parys, in the Free State.

SAM MOSOGE: The field work that we are doing is door-to-door, one-to-one, one-to-some, one-to-many. That is how we pass the messages of Khomanani to the community.

KHOPOTSO: Khomanani is a Xitsonga word, meaning ‘€œlet’€™s work together’€. The group moves along to yet another house to see if it can be welcome.

Fx’€¦ (A KNOCK ON A DOOR)

KHOPOTSO: Here, the front door is open and it’€™d be interesting to see if the door gets shut on the team’€™s faces.

WOMAN ANSWERS: Ee, ngenani. (Yes, come in).

KHOPOTSO: A motherly figure appearing to be in her late 50s leaves her chores and invites them in, introductions are made and a discussion follows. There are four people in the group and each of them handles a specific topic ranging from Tuberculosis to HIV prevention and treatment and other sexually transmitted infections. After the cordial discussion is complete ‘€“ over 20 minutes of it – the woman is given some literature to read on her own ‘€“ in her own language, isiXhosa. As the group leaves, Mr Mosoge, shares with us that he had earlier in the week met the owner of the house.

SAM MOSOGE: The owner of this house is a lady teacher’€¦ On Thursday we were at the school. We gave them a talk about this terrible MDR-TB’€¦ We addressed only the staff, not the kids. Then they will arrange that we should go and address the kids there’€¦ We also give them that education ‘€“ everybody ‘€“ when we are doing door-to-door. That is the tool that we are using here, and the greatest one.

KHOPOTSO: Irma Herbst is one of the Khomanani field workers in Tumahole. Her passion has largely been inspired by personal loss.

IRMA HERBST: Our campaign is about HIV and AIDS, especially AIDS and TB because our people are very ignorant. That’€™s why we’€™re doing door-to-door ‘€“ just to bring the information to the houses’€¦ Whether it’€™s raining or cold, we do it. We don’€™t just do it. We do it because we’€™re doing it out of the heart. We like to work with the people, to help them to save our society’€¦

I lost my aunt and my cousin and I was very affected. So, that’€™s why I told myself that I want to be part of this. I want to save the nation because some of them will just say: ‘€œNo, I have HIV and AIDS, we all have to die one day’€.    

KHOPOTSO: The programme encourages communities to go for HIV counselling and testing. If someone is already positive, they are referred for further help and treatment, if needed. Thami Hoshela, a pastor at a local church, is another member of the 45 Khomanani fieldworker group in Tumahole.

THAMI HOSHELA: This morning we had plus-minus 80 houses… That’€™s the area that we have covered’€¦ We start, always, at about 09h00 in the morning until 14h00.

KHOPOTSO: Hoshela speaks highly of the advantages of having a door-to-door campaign in the fight against HIV, saying the benefit is that it focuses on the individual.    

THAMI HOSHELA: Since Khomanani came up with this campaign most people become open. The stigma is still there. But now, people gain the information. We have tried our level best to make people aware.

KHOPOTSO: Clinics in the local community normally send reports of how many people came for a TB, STI or HIV test or treatment as a result of contact with the Khomanani fieldworkers. This is part of how the team measures its effectiveness. There are almost 30 such networks across the country and since April 2005 they have had 1.8 million face-to-face contacts with members of their communities. So, you’€™re advised to expect men and women in orange T-shirts, as they might come knocking at your door.

Fx’€¦ (A KNOCK ON A DOOR).