Latest news with #Beira
Zawya
2 days ago
- General
- Zawya
Mozambique: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Services Expand to Reach People with Disabilities
Across Mozambique, momentum is building in the delivery of HIV services, bringing renewed opportunities for communities that have long been on the margins. In Beira, one organization is working to ensure that people with disabilities are fully supported in the country's response to HIV. AMAMUS, a local group funded through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has emerged as a key partner in expanding access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment. Drawing on trusted community ties, the organization quickly ramped up its services earlier this year, reaching both new and existing beneficiaries through tailored approaches. Antonia Piri Piri, AMAMUS Coordinator and a respected advocate who also lives with hearing impairment said that they were ready to reach out to beneficiaries who depend on them not only for healthcare but also for reassurance, understanding, and a sense of connection. She added that as soon as it was possible, they returned to the neighborhoods to ensure that no one was left behind. Bringing Services Closer to Those Often Overlooked In Mozambique, roughly 2% of the population lives with a disability—a group that routinely faces barriers in the health system. The 2017 census found that 9.4% of people with disabilities have hearing impairments, with more than 14,000 living in Sofala Province, where AMAMUS is most active. One of the many touched by the organization's work is Joana Antonio, 26. Blind since childhood, Joana had never taken an HIV test due to fear, misinformation, and the lack of accessible information. With guidance from AMAMUS, she used a self-test kit for the first time and learned she was living with both HIV and tuberculosis. She was quickly linked to treatment and continues to receive support. Joana said that although she was initially scared to find out her status, she received support and guidance from AMAMUS, which helped her understand everything. She now knows her status and is receiving the care she needs. Privacy, Dignity and Health at Home A central part of AMAMUS's outreach is the promotion of HIV self-testing, an empowering tool for individuals who face obstacles visiting health centers. The kits are distributed through door-to-door outreach, community visits, and awareness sessions, where AMAMUS activists demonstrate how to use them safely and privately. For people with disabilities, this approach removes hurdles like long travel, communication barriers, and the need for intermediaries. If a test is positive, AMAMUS steps in to provide counseling, confirmatory testing, and referrals to care. They also offer psychosocial support and help escort individuals to clinics when needed. Creating a Health System That Reflects Everyone Despite progress, structural challenges persist. Many health facilities are not adapted for those with mobility, visual, or auditory impairments. Public transportation remains inconsistent and discriminatory, sometimes charging extra for assistive devices or refusing service altogether. These gaps hinder consistent access to treatment and increase the risk of drug resistance. AMAMUS is working to overcome these hurdles by advocating for more representation in health planning and by adapting their own services to meet people where they are. For AMAMUS, this is about more than just physical access—it's about visibility, voice, and respect. Tech Tools Build Community Engagement AMAMUS is also using digital tools to build stronger connections. The organization created WhatsApp groups tailored to different communities, providing real-time updates on HIV services and creating a space for peer support. A community health fair is also in the works, designed to bring integrated services like HIV testing directly to residents in hard-to-reach areas. Progress Anchored in Community Strength As Mozambique intensifies its HIV response, organizations like AMAMUS are playing a vital role in ensuring that services reach all corners of society. Their work is helping to dismantle long-standing barriers and foster broad-based participation in health initiatives. While a temporary pause in activities earlier this year posed logistical challenges, it also reinforced the value of community-rooted responses and the urgency of building health systems that serve everyone, regardless of ability or background. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Mozambique.
Irish Times
14-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
The Unforgiving Beira
Robbie's routine was as tiring as it gets on the Beira oil platform. Grab whatever breakfast leftovers in the cafeteria, enter out to the deck, and work wherever he was needed, fixing the electrics. Some days would be more forgiving, only needing to fix one or two fuses, other days were cruel and would drag him along the rig from dawn until dusk. Today happened to be one of those cruel days, with extra pouring rain! He wished he could cry. Speaking of … Robbie could hear just that, but it wasn't from himself. It was coming from the accommodations area. Robbie goes to investigate. It's coming from under the pool table … 'Hello?' '...' READ MORE 'If you stay there, Rennick will eventually find you! So – better to come out now!' A scrawny woman crawls out and stands up. She's pale, her cheeks sunken in. 'You're … not from our crew are you? What are you doing here? Are you a stowa-' 'I-I'm sorry! Yes – I-I snuck on to the rig and don't work here but I swear it's for a good reason! I swear – just – please don't report me.' 'Nonono – I can't help ya. My job means more to me than a criminal. I don't put my job on the line like a piece of fish bait.' The girl kneels in front of him, pleading with tears. 'Please … I can't go back to the mainland right now – I have nothing left there … please …' 'Geez … I ... urgh – fine. Fine, I'll help your sorry soul – but I'm won't give you the world or anything.' And so it was. For the next few weeks, Robbie would start getting up earlier so he and the stowa- … girl could split food evenly between them. He asked one day: 'So … what's yer name?' 'Carrie …' 'Right … Robbie.' And another day he asked: 'For someone so bony, ya sure do scoff down those eggs and bacon, eh?' 'Mhm ...' 'Not much of a talker, are ya?' '...' And one day, he said: 'You know, you remind me a bit of my daughter. 'Oh? What's her name?' 'Olivia … she's a little angel.' 'Ah … that's sweet.' But a week before Robbie's work finished … 'I got brekky! Eggs and ba-' The tray drops from his hands, the plates shattering into bits. 'Carrie?' But she was nowhere in his room. He sprints out, looking everywhere. Accommodations, the kitchen, but nothing. 'Robbie!' A voice called from outside. Two of his coworkers stood outside, holding Carrie by her arms. 'Care to explain who your friend is?' 'Let 'er go! She's done no harm!' 'Really? Caus' I heard from the police that this lil' lass is supposed to be on death row for murderin' her ma! Is that no harm, Robbie?' 'You what?' 'Rob, I can expla-' 'Look – you're a good pal to me Robbie, so I'll give you a choice. Either you get rid of her, or you deal with her and the police when we get back on land.' 'I …' 'My job means more to me than a criminal.'
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How To Acquire More Support Gems In Path Of Exile 2
If you want to obtain new abilities and enhance your current skill set in Path of Exile 2, you need more Support Gems. Every ability in the game can be enhanced with unique affixes and effects that change how the spell, summon, or strike performs. Path of Exile 2 provides you with your very first Support Gem during a quest in Act 1, but from there acquiring more is a little more challenging. It's a matter of sourcing Uncut Support Gems and crafting what you desire. There are two key farming methods to consider: completing side quests, and defeating Rare and Boss-type enemies in any zone in the game. You may wish to kill two birds with one stone and opt for one of the better leveling zones in PoE 2 to gain additional strength while you power up your abilities with gems. Furthermore, there are three levels of Support Gems. The level one Support Gems will drop during Act 1, beginning during the tutorial. The level two Support Gems begin dropping in Act 3 when you reach the Jungle Ruins and obtain level 35. Lastly, the level three Support Gems drop at level 56 during Act 2 Cruel Mode. The higher the tier, the more powerful the supplementary effect to your skill. As mentioned, a variety of the game's quests offer rewards in the form of gems, and the two that you'll want to focus most on include Treacherous Ground in the Mud Burrow during Act 1, and Treasures of Utzaal in the Molten Vault during Act 3. The former provides your first Support Gem of the game, and the latter offers an Uncut Skill Gem. That said, most side quests in the game task you with killing a Rare or Boss enemy at the very end, making them viable farming methods to acquire Uncut Support Gems. Just don't expect any handouts from quest-givers! While you'll encounter Rare monsters randomly while clearing zones, you'll have far more luck farming high-end gems like Uncut Support Gems by tackling any of the game's many optional bosses. A few we recommend you shoot for include: Beira of the Rotten Pack Brambleghast The Crowbell Candlemass, the Living Rite Kabala, The Constrictor Queen Mighty Silverfist Igangduk, The Bog Witch These bosses, while optional, provide a challenge to solo players who have yet to optimize their builds, and there's no harm in asking for help in global chat. In time, you'll learn each boss's phases and moves, allowing you to easily farm them for gems. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
