Bridging the Gap: Conference Record [Abstract book, International Conference on AIDS (12th: 1998: Geneva, Switzerland)]

12th World AIDS Conference

Abstracts 34164-34169 719

34164 Empowering and building communit capacity to contain
the AIDS epidemic by involving community leaders and
volunteers
Jacob Luba. Taso Tororo, PO Box 777, Tororo, Uganda
Issue: Community can be mobilised to play voluntary and effective roles in the
AIDS prevention and care programmes through their Community Leaders.
Project: A Community AIDS Programme was set up in a rural transit boarder
community in Eastern Uganda in response to a rapidly growing AIDS epedemic
fuelled by highly risky sexual behaviour during long night festivals and widow inheritance among families and the sex trade between prostitutes, boarder traders
and truck drivers crossing from Kenya. Chiefs, Elders, other Community Leaders
and Volunteers from every local parish were mobilised and trained in AIDS work.
They got skills in identifying cultures influencing HIV infection and behaviour
change. Strategies were home to home, schools, funerals, churches, market
etc. Activities were giving information, condom distribution, referrals to testing,
counselling and medical services.
Result: In two years, community demanded for AIDS services to be brought
nearer to them at grassroots. Causes of death were announced, at every funeral,
families were encouraged to support orphans and widows.
Lesson: If ignorance, isolation and stigma can be eradicated, communities can
be very willing to play a big role in prevention and care of PWAs. Governments,
Institutions, NGOs should target community involvement to promote protective
and preventives strategies to combat AWS.
34165 Finding creative solutions in the absence of drugs
Lusiana Aprilawati1l2, S. Murni2, T. Setyorini2. 1JL. Lauser No. 3B Jakarta
12120; 2Spiritia Foundation Jakarta, Indonesia
Issue: Within the limited access to antiretro viral drugs and lack of government
health support system, community is challeged to find creative solution.
Project: Spiritia Foundation working in situation where availibility and affordability of antiretro viral drugs are low, patients' and doctors' knowledge of HIV/AIDS is
low, alternative treatments for HIV/AIDS is not popular and support for PWA (People Living with HIV/AIDS) is not priority, Spiritia hold monthly discussion forum to
fasilitate dialogues, info exchange and updating and to try to explore possibilities
to overcome or minimize hinderances. New collaborations and concrete actions
are the expected outcomes. Each month the forum raise the most urgent topic.
As many potential partners as possible are encourage to take part.
Result: Various groups are interested to participate e.g. physicians, activists,
pharmaceutical companies, journalists, alternative therapists, PWA and government representatives. A wider referral system for care and support is an important
result of the forums. PWA participation is vital to direct the forum. However, their
lack of skills and confidence hinder them to participate fully.
Lessons Learned: Dialogues among various parties related to treatment issues may produce innovative ideas and collaborations, and draw government and
media attention. The low participation of PWA challenge to have more supportive
atmosphere for participants from non science background.
34166 The institutional actions and level of commitment as
perceived by healthcare workers
Kurt Frieder1, M. Maizliz2, S. Beer2, P. Cahn3, M. Perez3. 1Fundacion
HUESPED, Angel Peluffo 3932 (1181), Buenos Aires; 2Total Research Buenos
Aires; 3Hospital Fernandez Buenos Aires, Argentina
Objective: To investigate the perception of the healthcare workers (HCW) in regard to actions developed by organizations commited to provide care and support
for HIV infected people in Argentina.
Methods: 904 HCW at a Scientific Symposium held in Buenos Aires in September 96 were invited to complete a survey. A personal evaluation of the commitment
and actions carried out by Governmental and non Governmental (NGOs) programs as well as international organizations such as PAHO and UNAIDS were
requested.
Results: 283 (30%) of assistants agreed to complete the survey. More than
80% of respondents were HCWs from the private and public health care system.
The vast majority pointed out that the official Programs have been up to now,
inoperative both in actions and in commitment. 21% of the respondents were Satisfied/Very Satisfied with the level of commitment of the Governmental Programs,
but only 8% expressed satisfaction with the actions developed. This figures were
even lower (11%) when they referred to local programs. On the contrary, when
evaluating NGOs and PAHO/UNAIDS, the level of satisfaction grew to 60 and
55% respectively.
Conclusion: HCW seem to disagree with the Governmental AIDS strategies
while they value highly the actions and programs of NGOs and International
Health Organizations.

34167 Community acceptance and support for people with
HIV/AIDS and their families in northern Thailand
Udom Likitwonnawut, Rajitra Napatalung, Promboon Panitchpakdi. 185-187
Phaholyothin Road SOI 11, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
About 40 percent of the reported AIDS cases have been reported from northern
Thailand. The incidence of AIDS related morbidity and mortality is high in rural
villages. The Integrated Community-Based Care for People with HIV/AIDS and

their families (ICBC) project, funded by the European Union, aims to stimulate
community involvement and support for affected families. The project has trained
200 village volunteers from 50 villages. The volunteers provide advice to affected
families on the provision of nutrition, home-based care, financial and occupational
support. They also assist in contacting internal and external sources of support
for the infected person and other family members.
CARE project staff with the technical support of the Office of Population and
Technical Assistance (OPTA) collected data from 13 villages to serve as a baseline
on the status of community support towards people with HIV who were members
of the village. Rapid survey results showed that the community has mixed levels
of opinions towards the degree of support they would give to families affected by
HIV/AIDS. Almost all villagers agreed that they should visit persons with HIV/AIDS
(PHIV) and provide emotional support. Few villagers, however, agreed that they
should be involved in providing occupational support or financial support to PHIV.
Attitudes in favor of community support for children of affected families were also
very low. Focus group discussions provided in depth information on the concerns
of the villagers.
Conclusion: Contrary to the general belief that communities in northern Thailand are acceptive and supportive of PHIV and their families, there still remains
varying levels of acceptance. Program aimed at generating community support
must be sensitive to these attitudes in order to organize support for PHIV. In
addition, program indicators and survey tools must be developed to measure
more precisely the various levels of community support.
134168 Assessing the social impact and response of
communities to counselling
Lugonvu Alice Kiwanuka1, P. Gitta2, J. Nabalonzi3. 1 PO. Box 22167 Kampala;
2Mulago Hospital PO. Box 7051 Kampala; 3Joint Clinical Research Centre Box
10005 Kampala, Uganda
Issue: Many people in Gaba community-Uganda were associating HIV/AIDS
with promiscuity thus discrimination and stigmatisation for those infected by HIV/
AIDS.
Project: From January 1997 to December 1997, a project to train the community
and give them basic counselling skills in order to empower their own communities
fight against discrimination and ensure the rights of HIV infected people to live as
full fledged citizens was started. Our entry point was the community leaders and
other opinion leaders. These were given HIV/AIDS awareness and counselling
and later helped us mobilise the community.
They elected their chairperson, peer educators and community counsellors.
We discussed with them facts about HIV/AIDS transmission, prevention, and risk
factors, gave them basic counselling skills and education on care for the infected.
After one year we closed out, and the project continues as a community initiative
to fight HIV/AIDS.
Result: Counselling was well received by the community. Counselling helped
members form drama/music groups including both the HIV infected and anonymous people. Plays and songs carried messages educating the community about
preventive behaviour, facts about HIV transmission and risky behaviour. Discriminating against those infected stopped, home visiting and care was given by
educators and community counsellors. Many residents were referred for HIV/AIDS
counselling and testing. HIV infected people became more open and went out to
educate others about HIV/AIDS.
Lessons learned: Counselling can be very well received and has a profound
social impact to the communities once they are well mobilised. Taking HIV/AIDS
care and counselling to the community makes it a community concern other than
a heresay.
S34169 World AIDS Day (WAD) celebration: An organ for
collaboration/establishment of networks on AIDS in
Nigeria
Sunday Fole1, 0. Alawuru2, E. Okpodu3, F. Okoro3. 12 Akemu St., Okumagba
Lay-Out, Warri Delta State (P.O. Box 107,); 2Nigeria AIDS Educ. & RSCH Org
c/o 10A Owina St., Off Ekenwan Rd., Benin, EDO; 3NIG AIDS Theatre Org., 2
Ukpokiti St., P.O. Box 1708, Warri, Nigeria
Issue: Duplication of efforts, exclusion of non-AIDS related NGOs existing in
a community is unacceptable and serves to enhance AIDS spread. Group participation, collaboration and formation of networks for effective AIDS preventive
activities by all groups inherent in a community is vital for good program design/execution, acceptance, sustainability and continuity for maximal impact.
Project: WAD celebration was used for education, collaboration and initiation
of networking between government, CBOs, NGOs and the private sector, in Warri
South and Okpe Local government (LG) areas in Delta State, Nigeria. The Warri
WAD Committee (WWADC) was formed in 1992 and comprised of representatives of NGOS, CBOs, Government (LG) and the private sector, through which
WAD was marked in 1992, 1994 and 1995. Activities include Lectures, Youth
Rallies, Carnival floats, Prison outreach, Radio and T.V. talkshows, and jingles,
distribution of handbills, posters, face caps and condos, question and Answer,

Plays and Quiz competitions.
Result: By 1995, the WWADC participating organisations formed the Warri
AIDS Action Committee (WAAC) as a permanent network, In all 3 annual. WAD
commemoration 6,000 youths participated, 4,000 handbills, 2,000 face caps, 100
stickers and 5,000 condoms distributed, 500 Youths were counselled on STDs,
examined and 50 treated. 8 drama presentations, 6 Radio jingles produced, 6
T.V. Talkshows and 3,000 Warri Prison inmates reached.