HEALTH PROGRAMMES

HIV/AIDS PROJECT

BACKGROUND

HIV/AIDS is an important public health issue affecting the people living in Uganda. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that is responsible for causing AIDS {Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome} (http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/index.html). The disease is transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse or sharing sharp instruments with infected people. Other methods of transmission include mother to child transmission and blood transfusion (http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/transmission.html).

In Uganda, interventions focusing on sexual behavioral change were initiated by the government to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country. These interventions have been based on the ABC (Abstinence Be faithful Condom use) model. There have been other HIV prevention interventions that is; Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)treatment; Safe Blood transfusion; Public Awareness Campaigns; Women empowerment; Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) testing (htttp://docs.mak.ac.ug/…/ICASA%20%20ABC%...)

According to the Ministry of Health, the current prevalence rate of adults between the ages of 15-49 is 7.3% {Ministry of Health (MoH) Press Release 2011 Uganda Aids Indicator Survey (UAIS)}.There is evidence that reveals that the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS is higher in women at 8.3% than in men at 6.1% (MoH Press Release 2011 UAIS). However, it has been stipulated that the reason for this discrepancy is that more women are participating in Voluntary HIV testing than men (MoH Press Release 2011 UAIS).

Moreover, at regional level, it has been discovered that prevalence rates range from 4.1% to 10.6% in Mid-eastern region and Central region respectively. These statistics show a need for development of interventions that can be implemented in order to tackle this issue.

Eloi Ministries plans to come up with behavioral change and prevention based interventions which targeting regions that have been affected mostly by HIV/AIDS epidemic. This project entails activities that will be undertaken to tackle this public health issue.

AIM

The aim of this HIV/AIDS project is to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention in communities affected by this killer disease.

OBJECTIVES

• To provide community members with information about HIV/AIDS
• To offer voluntary HIV/AIDS testing to community members
• To empower affected people with tools to improve their wellbeing
• To improve access of infected people to health care institutions

ACTIVITIES

• HIV/AIDS Voluntary Counseling and testing
• Sex Education
• Reproductive Health Education
• STIs Education and testing
• Distribution of ARVs
• Distribution of Condoms
• Avocation for Male circumcision as a preventative method

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• Increased knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention among community members
• Reduced number of positive HIV/AIDS cases among community members
• Reduced positive cases of STIs among community members

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

• Interview conducted surveys
• Focus group discussions