Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

340 Abstracts WePeG7052-WePeG7055

XIV International AIDS Conference

faced during scaling-up process at State level and Gujarat has successfully over
come these challenges.
Description: Project Support Unit (PSU), a State level management unit, is
working closely with the State AIDS Control Society for developing, supporting
and managing DFIDI funded targeted intervention (TI) component of AIDS control programme. PSU has always been a bridge between the Government and
project partners implementing activities at grass root for effective and efficient
programme implementation at the State level for last four years. Being an independent unit, it can avoid unwanted pressures for developing quality projects.
During this period programme has grown from ten projects started in pilot phase
to about one hundred projects covering various vulnerable groups that includes
CSWs, MSM, migrant population, truckers and street children.
Lessons learnt: i) State-wide network is a result of collective efforts of the Government, NGOs, community and donors etc.
ii) Sensitization and involvement of Government officials created supportive environment.
iii) Creation of professional management unit is found to be very effective. Statewide movement for reduction in HIV/STD spread has started.
iv) Strong network is developed at the State level which is a platform to launch
HIV/AIDS and STD control programme.
Recommendations: i) Transparency in selection of partners is necessary.
ii) Support mechanism needs to be well thought off.
iii) Long term sustainability needs to be addressed.
iv) Local dynamics needs to be well understood.
v) Partnership in true sense at various levels is the key strength.
vi) Network could be used to launch various other health programmes as over all
integrated programme.
Presenting author: Udayan Pandya, 4/A; Orient Apartment, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad 380 013, Gujarat State, India, Tel.: [phone], Fax:
[phone], E-mail: udayan @wilnetonline.net
WePeG7052 Cultural factors in the relationship between policy,
research and practice in HIV health promotion
P. Keogh, P Weatherburn, F. Hickson. Sigma Research, Sigma Research, Unit
64, Eurolink Centre, 49 Effra Road, London, SW2 1BZ, United Kingdom
Background: Partnerships between HIV researchers, educators / practitioners
and policy makers are crucial in delivering quality HIV health promotion. Although
research, HIV prevention and national policy institutions are often structurally
linked, the cultural factors which substantially impede these relationships are
rarely examined.
Methods: At an international panel convened at the 5th AIDS Impact conference
in 2001, researchers, educators and policy makers from the UK, Australia and the
USA spoke about this relationship from their regional perspectives. Using insights
gained at this panel, we discuss ways of understanding the inter-relationships of
research, policy and practice.
Results: The relationship can be examined on three levels. 1. Professional / interpersonal level: policy makers, researchers and educators have differing political
backgrounds and professional trajectories. Resulting antagonisms adversely affect the efficiency and appropriateness of services. Conversely, too much consensus leads to inflexibility and lack of innovation. 2. Sectoral level: different groups
work to different political and social imperatives. Antagonisms generated by competing professional discourses are analysed (for example, the way in which practitioners' assumptions influence research questions; how policy imperatives like
social exclusion influence education practice etc). The biases and assumptions
that underpin the identification and construction of target groups are explored.
3. International level: we look at how the international dissemination of research
findings and practice innovations are facilitated both by the local policy environment and by issues of 'cultural capital'.
Conclusions: A cultural analysis of this relationship facilitates far greater insights
into the nature of damaging conflicts.There is scope for building greater consensus between individuals and sectors by recognising and attending to cultural factors.
Presenting author: Peter Keogh, Sigma Research, Unit 64, Eurolink Centre, 49
Effra Road, London, SW2 1 BZ, United Kingdom, Tel.: [phone], Fax:
[phone], E-mail: peterk@ sigmaresearch.org.uk
WePeG7O53 Developing a multilevel intergrated response to
HIV/AIDS in Mali,to coordinate and decentralise
responses across public,private and NGO sectors
T. Abiola, N. Koita, N. Lukoda. Plan International, Woking, Surrey, United
Kingdom
Background: HIV/AIDS is not only a health issue problem.It therefore requires a
multsectoral and multilevel response. There is a need to build coalitions among
different stake holders in oder to achieve the desired outcomes in any Project

that is aimed at reducing transmission of HIV/AIDS and mitigation of impact of
HIV/AIDS.Mali presents a challenge because of the semi nomadic life of its population.
Objective: Strategies to develop integrated, multilevel interventions, which decentralize management and coordinate responses across public, private, NGO
and CBOs sectors.
Methods: Since 1993, Plan Mali has been working with different stakeholders

in 5 regions in the south and central part of the country to reach 75% of Malian
Population in more than 2000 villages to reduce on the spread of HIV/AIDS within
this community. There has been a sustained building of coalitions to ensure a sustained multisectoral response within this community. There has also been provision of counseling and testing, care and support and behavior change communication by the Plan and partners. There has also been operations research, close
monitoring and a series of evaluation with involvement of all stakeholders.
Results: This is the largest HIV/AIDS NGO partnership in West Africa consisting
of 19 local NGOs and associations. This has increased awareness and access
to services to a large community Over 2 million people (including Orphans and
PLWAs) have been reached and assisted. 2000 volunteers have been trained.
Conclusion: Multilevel Partnerships have far reaching effect on HIV/AIDS programming.
Civil society coalitions can have a tremendous impact on behavior change
Building capacity of local stakeholders ensures sustainability and takes care of
traditional cultures and values.
Presenting author: Tilley-Gyado Abiola, Plan Internatonal, Chobham
House,Christ Church Way, Woking Surrey, GU 21 IJG, United Kingdom, Tel.: +44
(0) 1483 733237, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WePeG7054 Strengthening Evaluation Capacity Through
Prevention Collaboration
D.P. Wheeler1, D.R. Strauss2, J. Lin3, D.S. Indyk4, L. Smith5, E. Bay6,
A.L. Waldman7, A. Vazquez8, A. Brooks9, C. Richards7. 'Hunter College
School of Social Work, Hunter College School of Social work, 129 E. 79th st.,
New york, NY, 10021, United States; 2 VIP Community Services, New York,
United States; 3Thr Fortune Society, New York, United States; 4Project
Return/VIPR New York, United States; 5Housing Works, Inc, New York, United
States; 6Special Audiences, Newark, United States; 7Bronx AIDS Services, New
York, United States; 8Project Return, New York, United States; 9Fortune Society
New York, United States
Issues: Outcome evaluation is a significant part of HIV prevention work. Providers
are often challenged to balance the demands for accountability and quality of services. Various constituencies also want to know how resources are being spent
and the effects of these expenditures. In this session we discuss both process
and outcome of a community collaboration to meet these challenges and a service model specific to the needs of HIV Outreach programs.
Description: HIV Outreach programs funded under the Targeted Capacity Expansion initiative of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) of the
Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are required
to evaluate outcomes of their program services using a common protocol. The
need for accurate data collection, as well as maintaining consistently delivered
services, placed an additional burden on many community providers. In response
to the increased evaluation expectations, 6 funded programs in New York City
and New Jersey (USA) collaborated to provide mutual support and brainstorm to
refine Outreach evaluation efforts.
Lessons learned: This collaborative venture moved through early reactive dialog
phases into more structured thematic discussions. Issues addressed included:
staff turn-overs, validating front-line staff?s role in evaluation, competition for funding among coalition members and best practices for collecting data in field settings. Through this collaborative effort individual programs have enhanced and
more sophisticated data collection processes, improved ability to reach the client
pool and establish and maintain relationships that allow for improved data collection, and increased capacity to demonstrate and report on the effects of their
interventions.
Recommendations: This model of service provider collaboration is seen as one
method for enhancing client benefits while simultaneously addressing demands
for greater evaluative and accountability outcomes.
Presenting author: Darrell P. Wheeler, Hunter College School of Social work,
129 E. 79th st., New york, NY, 10021, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax:
+212.452.7150, E-mail: dwheeler@ hunter.cuny.edu
WePeG7055 Non-government organizations, government
organizations and private sector collaboration:
The youth zone project experience
L.T. Ragas1, J.N.M. Sescon2. 'Remedios AIDS Foundation, Inc.- Youth Zone
Cebu, Remedios AIDS Foundation, Inc., Youth Zone-Cebu, 3/F Colonnade
Mall-Oriente, Colon St., Cebu City 6000, Philippines; 2Remedios AIDS
Foundation, Inc., Metro Manila, Philippines
Issues: The growing trend of partnership between the non-government organizations (NGOs) and government agencies has been one of the contributing factors
of so many successful programs and projects. Another arena that has been ventured into by NGOs is to forge a triumvirate relationship with the business and

private sector. In the past they were considered to be an outsider when it comes
to discussion of social causes. But now they have also seen their social responsibility and has increasingly contributing to various efforts in forwarding certain
social issues such as poverty, environment, and on our experience, on STD and
HIV/AIDS.
Description: The Youth Zone project of the Remedios AIDS Foundation is a
shopping mall-based youth center that provides innovative information, educa