Ghana

From 8th to 12th May, Nobuhiro Kadoi, Senior Program Officer, JOICFP, was in Ghana to follow up on the regional planning meeting in March to facilitate progress of the UNFPA-supported Africa Regional Project (RAF5R303) "Community Participatory BCC and Advocacy in the Fight against HIV/AIDS with HIV/AIDS Total Management Model (ATOMM) Concept (BCC/ATOMM Project)." The two-year project will test a BCC and advocacy intervention to promote VCT, especially among youths, through the existing service provision network for youth reproductive health under UNFPA Country Programs in Ghana and Zambia. (Click here)

The purpose of the follow-up was to:

• Strengthen partnership with Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira (THLD) District Assembly and the District Health Management Team (DHMT);
• Brief stakeholders on the project concept and create a supportive environment for implementation;
• Seek possible collaboration with other stakeholders,

in cooperation with the counterpart, the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG).

Kadoi explained the project and ATOMM concept to the Regional Director of Health Services (Central Region), and gave a briefing to the communities receiving the intervention. He also held joint discussions with the THLD District Assembly, administrative officers, and DHMT, which strengthened communication among the stakeholders.

Discussion with the community members
in THLD District in Ghana

The issue of stigma is a major problem in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Some members of the communities wondered how stigma could be reduced as stigma was very strong and it was difficult to raise the issue in their traditional society.

Nevertheless, the assembly and the communities were very appreciative of the project and readily accepted the ATOMM concept.

Other areas, such as methods of transmission, teenage pregnancy, parental attitudes, and the situation of volunteers, were also discussed.

At present, there is only one VCT center in the district. The government is now preparing facilities and commodities for VCT and prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) in the district hospital, and the services are expected to be ready by July.

Behavior Change Communication (BCC) efforts under the regional project will be effective if integrated with the government’s efforts to make services accessible, and partnership building under ATOMM concept is the key to success.

Zambia

From 16th to 18th May, Kadoi visited the project sites in Solwezi District in Zambia where, together with the counterpart, the Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ), he met with district level officials, and briefed the Provincial Health Director (North Western Province) on the BCC/ATOMM concept.

He also observed health facilities in the selected project sites and met with the Youth RH Project Coordinator under the UNFPA Country Program.

Prior to Kadoi’s arrival, PPAZ had discussed the action plan with the stakeholders, who were then able to give strong commitment to the project.

The HIV/AIDS situation in Zambia is different to that of Ghana. The countries have HIV prevalence rates of 16% and 3%, respectively, and services such as VCT and PMTCT are widely available in Zambia.

However, stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS is also high in Zambia so people hesitate to make use of VCT services.

Youth

The Youth Friendly Corner of the Solwezi Urban Health Center is equipped with a television, video, IEC materials and some games, and a trained nurse is on hand. The center offers VCT and refers clients to the general hospital.

Peer educators and supervisors
in front of the Youth Friendly Corner
at the Solwezi Urban Clinic

At Mumena RHC, some peer educators have left to continue higher education, but the supervisor had found replacements and trained them, based on the Youth RH Training curriculum.

In addition, Mumena RHC plans to establish a craft center to support HIV/AIDS prevention, and has already raised funds to do so.

Health volunteers act out a drama regarding family
planning at the Mumena Rural Health Centre

The DHMT is committed to the project, along with the Provincial Health Director, and all stakeholders understand and appreciate the project concepts.