By Elizabeth Kameo
In 2005, dues to the high numbers of vendors in markets around Kampala 
dying from HIV/AIDS, Angelina Wapakhabulo, founded the Market AIDS Vendors Project (MAVAP), Uganda. Today, the unique project that took health series to the people is producing results and helping empower market vendors socially and economically to live healthy lives even with the threat of HIV/AIDS.
Right: Ms Angelina Wapakhabulo, Project Coordinator - Market AIDS Vendors Project (MAVAP)
I carried out an interview with Angelina Wapakhabulo, Founder, Market AIDS Vendors Project (MAVAP), Uganda, on 15 November.
The word project seem to be a buzz word cropping up in every one’s mind. TaLk of the AIDS project etc. But do these projects really benefitting the people they seem to purport to be supporting? OR Just benefing the so called coordinators and acting as grounds for future political manuvares.
Thanks for the comment Gordon. You do raise a significant issue and it took me more than thinking to come up with the Market Vendor’s Aids Project as a focus for looking at innovative education tools in preventing HIV and AIDS which was oneof the focus of the Commonwelath People’s Forum. And i chose Angelina Wapakhabulo’s project because i have been to the market and seen the change that this project has brought about amongst the people in the communities that were least thought about in the fight against HIV and AIDS. How many people think of markets whne they think saving people from this pandemic. Unliek other projects and people who think about their own benefit when setting up projects, i do believe that Angelina had the people of the market in his mind and not for her sake but for her sake. The project is one that is run by the vendors, theyd ecide what needs to be addressed and just ask for help from Angelina in areas where they are less empowered. I visted the project and iw ould advise anyone who does not think that markets like Owino are a no go area to go visit the project and see what the vendors are doing themselves to create chanmge and empower themselves. Imagine i met one lady in the market who told me how today her CD4 count is over 700 when a few years ago before this project came up and provided free ARVs to them her CD4 count stood at less than 200. I think we should not be in a rush to judge but look at something and then judge whether it is a selfish project or not. For me MAVAP is one of the best projects i have ever come across simply because it is “owned” by the people it seeks to help