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

12th World AIDS Conference

Abstracts 34340-34344 751

located in most affected regions (Constanta, Bucharest, Craiova and Brasov).
These four day clinics (named the Sunflower Day Clinics) offer medical care,
social and psychological support, as well as educational programmes to approx.
2,000 children and their families. Recently, RAA joined by Fondazione Franco
Moschino (Italy), has decided to concentrate their effort on establishing a network
of such day services, plus a mobile unit in order to respond the needs of infected
and affected children. This project is based on the model provided by the already established "Sunflower" day clinics, and has the following objectives: 1. To
ensure medical care, social support and educational integration for HIV positive
Romanian children (regardless of their family/abandonment status) so that they
can enjoy appropriate quality of life; 2. To prevent abandonment of HIV infected
children in hospitals and orphanages; 3. To create competitive multidisciplinary
teams of medical, social and educational staff aiming at global approach to each
individual case; 4. To create an open network of services, able to ensure continuous dissemination of information regarding standards of care among Romanian
specialists, improved case management, access to the newest literature and to
available services in the AIDS domain, for both specialists and affected families.
The "day clinics" model proved the most suitable for a country like Romania,
where socio-economical conditions led to extreme poverty of the affected families, child abandonment and poor quality of medical and social services. Since
RAA has started this programme, none of the children with HIV/AIDS has been
abandoned in hospitals or institutions of care and quality of medical and social
services has improved in these hospitals.
34340 Partnerships to achieve common goals for the person
living with AIDS
Keri Oberg. 3315 Hill Top Drive Ventura CA 93003, USA
Issue: AIDS Service Organizations-awareness of the need for industry and
community to work together.
Project: To develop a position within our pharmaceutical company that will
address the needs of the community. The responsibilities of this individual will
include developing relationships with AIDS Service Organizations and community
advocates. This person will also help key departments in the company to better
understand the needs of the community in order to address these issues in their
strategic initiatives. Additionally, the company develops the representatives understanding of patient issues as well as encourage their interest in volunteering in
their respective communities. Through this improved understanding of the community, we will develop communication strategies, educational tools, and clinical
trials that more closely reflect the needs of the Person Living with AIDS.
Results: We asked the community for assistance in identifying community
needs through a six month pilot program. This program resulted in the development some of the following initiatives: Supporting programs that educate
patients, providing unrestricted educational grants for community organizations,
sponsoring Medical Conferences, holding advocate briefings at HIV/AIDS related
meetings and conference calls, creating treatment education tools, and participating in programs for specific patient populations. The initiative also involved
our representatives receiving special training through participation in workshops
given by PWA's. The pilot program was a success and has resulted in two full
time community liaison positions.
Lessons Learned: We are more effectively addressing the needs of the community by building and maintaining long-term relationships with AIDS Service
Organizations and community advocates. This can have a long term effect as
more community needs will be addressed. At this point in the epidemic, the only
way to move forward is to work together. In order to "Bridge the Gap" and keep
people healthy, we must work together to address the needs of People Living
with HIV Disease.
34341 Launching a network of AIDS NGOS in Russia
Nikolai Nedzelski', I.V. Savelieva2. 1P.O. Box 130, Moscow 113303; 2The
Russian Names Fund, Moscow, Russia
Issue: Many Russian grassroots AIDS NGOs are isolated, lack strategies, information and skills necessary for effective AIDS prevention and support, and feel
powerless in the face of the growing epidemic, discrimination, and pressures from
the government institutions.
Project: In December 1997 the first AIDS coalition-building conference was
held in Moscow bringing together community AIDS organizations from various
Russian regions and diverse environments. The conference focused on the importance of NGO networking and mutual support to promote effective education
and intervention strategies and participation at all levels of decision-making. Priority tasks in the fight with the epidemic in Russia were discussed, and the role
of community-based NGOs in addressing these tasks.
Results: Conference participants shared their experience of addressing local
challenges and identified possible ways of communication, mutual support and
coordination of efforts both among AIDS NGOs, and with other community services networks. The conference resulted in improved interaction among AIDS
NGOs and served as a stepping-stone to building a national AIDS network. The

decision was made to hold follow-up national conferences every year.
Lessons Learned: With the vast diversity among local environments, challenges and resources throughout Russia, a common understanding of key issues
and a commitment to mutual support are needed for increasing power and credibility of community-based organizations, and building an effective national AIDS
network.

I 34342 The role of community based programmer in the fight
against AIDS: Uganda's experience with special
reference to TASO
Samali Matovu, N. Nantamu Naome, R. Sebikejje. The AIDS Support
Organization PO. Box 11485, Kampala, Uganda
Issue: A big influx of clients were following into AIDS operational centres. On
addition, there was a lot of stigma attached. Involvement in AIDS care and prevention and there was need to promote AIDS education, AIDS sensitization and
also to promote sustainability of care to PLA and affected families within their
communities.
Service: In 1991, TASO embarked on a community based care and preventive
programme aimed at building and supporting community based efforts to respond
to the AIDS epidemic.
Results: After a period of 7 years, 80 programme Implementors (specifically
for 2 communities; Seeta, Nazigo and Kyanja) have been trained. There is promotion of positive attitudes and reduction of stigma attached to the infection.
The programme Implementors each in their respective communities provide care,
counselling, home visiting, offer AIDS education sensitization and accurate information on HIV/AIDS prevention directly to grassroots. The community capacity to
manage and care for PLWA and their families has been built.
Communities have a vital role to play in the fight against AIDS. Therefore they
should be empowered to manage and care for PLWA and affected families within
their localities through community based programs.
S34343 HIV/AIDS information and communication
Valeria Susana Llosas Dios', Esther Gladys Gonzalez2, Karina
A. Tuttolomondo2. 1San Lorenzo 4244, 2000 Rosario; 20fes (Family Confronting
AIDS Org.), Rosario SF, Argentina
Issue: 24-hour telephone line for HIV/AIDS information
Project: Rosario is considered the second city of latinoamerica in numbers of
HIV/AIDS infected per habitant. To reinforce governamental health policy we've
set up a 24-hour private telephone line which aims at: 1) Attention to infected
people and completed assistance in emergency situations; 2) Once persons know
they're infected we offer support because they often feel alone or left aside by
their families; 3) Inform about risk factors and prevention in general; 4) Respond
to different city demands such as free and anonymous blood analysis, judicial
and psychological counselling.
Results: The private telephone line set up has been widely accepted by a
large number of city dwellers in general (different age groups and social classes)
because of this we have found it necessary to form groups of counselers with
interdisciplinary knowledge (with an interdisciplinary education) qualified to respond to large demands. 6.500 calls have been registered in 2 years, this has
made possible: 1) 1.200 blood analysis. 2) distribution of free medicine (donated)
to the affected equivalent to u$a 24.000. 3) self-helping groups. 4) teenagers
groups working for community prevention. 5) a greater recognition on behalf of
the community in general. 6) connections with. groups of students from different
universities (law, psychology, medical school, political science) concerned about
this matter.
Lessons learned: The attention given to the city dwellers through the confidential telephone line not only was useful in prevention and information activities.
We've found we could take part and mediate in special situations: to contribute to
increase life's quality, of persons living with HIV/AIDS and to protect their human
rights. This working program can provide prevention, education and health care
strategies that will properly reflect the experience of people living with HIV/AIDS.
34344 Donor funding: Who gets what?
Charles Kuloba. Mbale People With AIDS Crusade, PO. Box 430 Mbale, Uganda
Issue: People living with HIV/AIDS (PWAS) are used by AIDS service Organisations to enrich their employees.
Project: An analysis of two periodic Financial Reports of an ASO branch office
was undertaken. This branch employes 30 staffs and has 4,000 registered clients
(PWAS).
Result:
A. Financial report for the period 1st July 1996-30th April 1997
Amount (SHS) %
1. Client Related Expenditure 6,725,415= 4.6%
2. Staff related Expenditure 116,936,855 = 80.7%
3. Running Expenses 16,751,808 = 11.5%
4. Community Activities 4,606,700 = 3.2%
145,020,778= 100%
Quarterly financial report for 1st January 1997-31st March 1997
Amount U.SHS %
1. Client Related Expenditure 1,276,635 = 2%

2. Staff Related Expenditure 50,982,309= 84%
3. Other Expenditure 8,412,156= 14%
60,671,100= 100%
Unless PWAS fight for more real power in the running of ASOs, they will continue getting the crumbs. The PWA will only benefit from Donor Funds if Donors
will look more favourably at and give preferance to PWA organisations run by
PWAs themselves.