HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention Program

 HIV prevalence ranges from 2.8 to 6.6% (average 4.1) according to the UNAIDS report 2003. This is a decline from the average of 6.5% HIV prevalence in 2002. This decline is attributed to the strong national government and non-government agencies' prevention efforts to date.

Whereas awareness on HIV/AIDS in most parts of the country is universal, behavior change remains elusive as illustrated by condom use levels as low as 9% in some rural areas and 46.9% in Kampala (MOH KABP 2001) and inconsistence condom use. Overall at a national level, condom use is 7% for women and 15% for men (UDHS 2001/2002). It is also noted that an average of 12% of married men are involved in extramarital sex. (UDHS 2001). This demonstrates the need for promoting more behavior change.

Denial, stigma and discrimination continue to exist in communities despite the numerous efforts that have been made to educate the communities. This has contributed to low attendance at Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) services.

Whereas heterosexual behaviors remain the major mode of HIV transmission (over 90%),  mother to child transmission has increasingly been noted as another area of concern. The availability of Anti Retro Virals (ARVs) has improved and prolonged the lives of the people living with AIDS. These developments have led to new challenges which require new information, education and communication frameworks.

The low risk perception by individuals, in some cohorts especially the youth and other vulnerable groups has negatively affected behavior change. Sadly, the reported decline in the HIV prevalence has made people complacent, leading to higher risks of increased infections. This therefore requires integration of life skills building and innovation in the way information, education and communication are disseminated.

Local culture also limits parent-child dialogue, particularly issues related to sex education. Sex is considered sacred in most indigenous cultures and so many Ugandans do not share sex-related issues in public. 

HIV/AIDS, Malaria Control and Health Care Management Programme:

General Health is a pre-requisite for a productive community and consequently poverty reduction. In Uganda, ill health was the most frequently cited cause and consequence of poverty in the 1999-Uganda Participatory Poverty Assessment Process (UPPAP) study. Improving health is therefore essential to reducing poverty and facilitating economic development. HIV/AIDS and Malaria are the most significant threat to the health of the target community. Currently, they both account for 45% of all outpatient visits at health centers and 20% of inpatient death.
It is estimated that families spend up to 50% of all household income on HIV/AIDS care and Malaria treatment, they both account for up to 40% of all man-hours lost per annum which has big implications on the affected families and the nation at large.

To improve case management of HIV/AIDS and Malaria among the target community and enhance epidemic preparedness.

Activities:

• To increase awareness of the diseases among the community. Education programs are being designed and promoted in schools and local communities. Often parents are afraid to speak to children about relationships and sex yet sex is the major channel through which HIV/AIDS is spread. We try to encourage parents to openly speak with their children about these issues. This helps the children be aware of the disease and avoid risky sexual behaviors. The danger is that if parents don't speak about it, the children will pick up this information from peers and secular media which is often very negative.
• In schools, we identify competent teachers from the local schools who can act mentors to the children. The identified teachers receive specialized training to acquire effective skills for disseminating information about HIV/AIDS and sex behaviors in a language that is not profane and scandalous to young people. 
• To sensitize and encourage people to go for VCT (voluntary counseling and testing). Knowing the HIV status helps a person to take precautions and change behaviors. If someone finds out he/she is negative, he should take care not to pass on the virus to others and the one who is still negative, to be careful not to engage in risky behaviors. Those who turn out positive can get appropriate treatment and referred to support groups like post-test clubs, people living with HIV/AIDS association, and the like.
• Clubs and Youth groups are also an effective means of passing on positive information to youth and young people in general.  Post-test clubs have been very effective in disseminating information to the community because they speak from personal experiences. People listen to their testimonies and can learn, be encouraged and strengthened. The clubs achieve this goal in different ways which may include music and drama as well.
• To introduce approved insecticide for large-scale use in the rural area.
• To promote clearing of all bushes around homes and all bleeding sites of mosquitoes.
• Provide and encourage use of mosquito nets to prevent malaria transmission by mosquitoes. Malaria is a big cause of deaths and illness in most African regions, so it is crucial to safeguard against its transmission.