Kgosi Leipigo of Hukuntsi grateful for ACHAP‘s contribution towards bringing services closer to his people through the Community System Strengthening (CSS) program under the Global Fund. The ecstatic Chief expressed this recently during a community led -Health fair that was hosted by the community of Hukuntsi partnering with ACHAP. Leipigo noted that “the CSS program has indeed brought a lot of change and positivity amongst his community.”

When welcoming guests, Leipigo described how before the introduction of the program they faced a lot of health related challenges. He mentioned that alcohol and drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and HIV infections were the order of the day in his village. “After our children intoxicate themselves with these alcohol and drugs they engage in unprotected sexual activities leading to the spread of infections and unwanted pregnancies. This unruly behaviour is influenced by drug use and the rate of HIV infections keeps on increasing. Kgosi elaborated.

“I am very thankful to ACHAP for introducing the CSS program in our village, because now I can see a lot of difference in my community. My request is for the ACHAP team to stay within us to educate and inform us on how to prevent infections and sicknesses. We want to be fully equipped to resolve all these issues that are affecting us in our community to preserve our future generation. I understand that through behaviour change and reformation of character from our ill behaviours which lead to the spread of infections, our life span will be prolonged as we will be preserved from ailments” He emphasized. Leipigo appealed to his people to receive and support the program as it will contribute positively to their health and improve their life span. He appealed to them to take heed of the information that the volunteers share with them when they do door-to-door visits around the community.

According to Kgosi Leipigo behavior change in his community can been influenced by the most of the youthful volunteers as they can easily relate with their peers.