Abstract Book Vol. 1 [International Conference on AIDS (16th: 2006: Toronto, Canada)]

MOPE0954
Sport and HIV/AIDS: the missing link?
A. Marcano, M.A. Torres. MIA Communications, Toronto, Canada
Issues: The potential contribution that sport can make in the field of
development and HIV/AIDS is unknown since very few organizations, are
working on connecting both issues. Sport offers the perfect bridge between
theories and concepts-design to implement HIV/AIDS programs in developing
countries, where formal ways of transmitting information, i.e. through the
educational system, may not be available.
Description: the goal of the project is to maximize the use of sport as a
viable and practical tool to deliver messages and implement projects on human
rights, social development, education, and prevention of HIV/AIDS by providing
governments and civil society with information, education and communication
(IEC) materials and capacity building activities. The outcomes of this project
can be shared among regions/cultures
Lessons learned: Sport should be a vehicle to help mitigate the spread
and impact of HIV/AIDS. The four pillars necessary for effective HIV/AIDS
programming are knowledge, life skills, the provision of a safe and supportive
environment and access to services. The nature and the benefits derived when
it is incorporated into development initiatives make it well suited to support
these four pillars. The groups most at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS -women and
young people, especially girls- are known to be highly responsive to targeted
sports initiatives. Expanded human, financial and technical resources need to
be available to sport related activities, once sport is understood as more than
just entertainment, but also as a tool for, for example, HIV/AIDS prevention.
Recommendations: It is necessary to develop, increase and strengthen the
skills of sports "stakeholders" to use sport as a tool for human rights, social
developmet and health. It is also necessary to improve/increase and share the
knowledge and understanding about the current status and potential use of
sport as a tool to implement projects on the issues above mentioned.
MOPE0955
Mainstreaming HIV and AIDS into rural development
prevents and mitigates HIV and AIDS impacts
P. Wambua Kyavoa. Swedish Cooperative Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
Issues: "During cotton harvest season, we migrate from our homes to
the lowlands where we have our farms and market centres to harvest and
sell cotton. There is normally a lot of money in circulation and also a lot of
interaction. People use the cotton sales proceeds to engage in risky sexual
behaviours that put them at risk of HIV infection." Kasese-Uganda, Nyakatonzi
Cooperative Union Farmer. HIV and AIDS impacts on development gains.
Development interventions have both negative and positive impacts on HIV
and AIDS. Development can make beneficiaries more vulnerable to HIV.
Mainstreaming HIV and AIDS in our poverty alleviation program present
opportunities to prevent and mitigate HIV and AIDS impact.
Description: This abstract describes lessons learnt by SCC-Vi Agroforestry
Program in Eastern Africa in mainstreaming HIV and AIDS into development.
24,012 farmers were reached with HIV and AIDS education through trained
extension workers. Study circle methodology is used by the farmers to discuss
HIV and AIDS. 11500 copies of BCC materials were disseminated. Beneficiaries
are adopting positive behaviours. 242 beneficiaries were voluntarily tested for
HIV. Farmer groups are caring for children orphaned by HIV and AIDS and
acting as support groups for peers living with HIV and AIDS. Farmer groups and
OVC were supported to initiate livelihood interventions to enable them cope
with HIV and AIDS.Mainstreaming guidelines have been developed.
Lessons learned: Creating buy in for HIV and AIDS mainstreaming and
building capacity among staff to mainstream are essential steps. Cost effective
opportunities exist within our development to prevent and mitigate impact of
HIV and AIDS.
Recommendations: Development partners need to mainstream HIV and
AIDS into their sectors. This ensures that clients are not put at risk of infection
due to their development interventions and that opportunities from other
development sectors contribute to HIV prevention and mitigation.
MOPE0956
Setting up a program to combat STIs/HIV in a state
of political unrest: PALIH's experience
G. Joseph, A.-M. Thimotee, E. Damier, M. Bernier. CCISD, PALIH, Saint-Marc,
Haiti
Issues: The situation in Haiti has considerably deteriorated since the Project
to Support the Fight against STI/HIV-AIDS in Haiti (French acronym PALIH)
started, mostly because of the much contested 2000 elections and the rise of
rebel militia. Several sources confirm an upsurge in the numbers of victims
- particularly victims of rape.
Description: This escalating violence has not only affected the implementation

of the Project activities, but also some of its orientations had to be adjusted
in light of the impact of the situation on the risk of STI/HIV transmission. First
of all, a vigorous program aimed at countering sexual violence, an important
cause of STI/HIV infection, had to be established. The Project also decided
to focus on young girls at risk of being sexually exploited and abused and to
raise awareness of the general population about the need to protect this highly
vulnerable group. The rise in violence also increased the pressure exerted
on the Artibonite Department's health care system. The Project was able to
adapt quickly to the context, providing immediate assistance to Artibonite's

Departmental health directorate and to community health units, helping to
reorganize health care services. This allowed for an improved response to the
needs of the victims and both the victims and the health care teams were
able to enjoy an environment that is secure enough to ensure the pursuit of
activities, including those impacting directly the PALIH Project.
Lessons learned: Implementing emergency responses was a necessary
step in being able to carry out actions that had previously been planned, like
strengthening the governance of the department's health care system. Despite
the crisis context, there is a need to continue implementing activities, but
requires certain flexibility.
Recommendations: The planning infor PALIH's second phase will take into
account the ongoing crisis situation and the necessary flexibility required by
the circumstances.
MOPEO957
Implementation of national response to HIV/AIDS
in a conflict setting - the Burundi experience
S. Braimah. ActionAid International, Durban, South Africa
Issues: Countries in conflict experience harder challenges in the management
and coordination of national responses to HIV/AIDS as they implement National
Strategic Plans to fight the epidemic. Concomitant with this is the challenge of
nurturing partnerships between civil society actors and government. Increased
capacity for the management and coordination of responses within a conflict
context can better be achieved through careful planning and strong partnerships
between civil society and government.
Description: Burundi implemented the SIPAA (Support to the International
Partnership against AIDS in Africa) project, which focused on scaled-up and
better co-ordinated response to the epidemic through African leadership,
involvement of people living with HIV, and wider state-civil society partnerships.
An external evaluation of the project highlighted the success attained in
enhancing the capacity to manage and co-ordinate the national response within
a conflict setting. Burundi has been engulfed in an ethno-political conflict with
frequent rebel incursions, compelling development actors to limit interventions
to the capital, Bujumbura, and safe areas. The project supported capacity
building and enhanced effective decentralised management and coordination
of responses within this difficult context.
Lessons learned: Based on the experiences of Burundi, strategic partnerships
between civil society and government can significantly build capacity for
more efficient responses. Even in a conflict setting, with careful planning that
takes cognisance of the context and urgency of responses, management and
coordination of responses can be efficiently decentralised to ensure resource
flow and programme delivery. Civil society actors, including people living with
HIV, play an important role in resource management in national responses.
Recommendations: Partnerships between governments and civil society
need to be nurtured in order to achieve a more effective and co-ordinated
response, especially in a conflict context. Donor funding to civil society actors
needs to be increased to ensure strategic partnerships between such actors
and governments.
MOPE0958
HIV in schools
M. Conway. National Children's Bureau, Children and Young People HIV
Network, London, United Kingdom
Issues: With increasing HIV rates in the UK, the number of school age children
either infected with or affected by HIV is increasing. At present, the majority of
HIV-infected families choose not to inform schools about their HIV status. The
school community remains ignorant of the issues these families face, and the
educational and pastoral needs of these children are not being met.
Description: The Children and Young People HIV Network approached a group
of education experts, including the Government Department for Education
(DfES); to develop a coherent teacher-friendly resource presenting the specific
issues and support needs of these pupils. The content was dictated by the
experiences of the children, their families, and the needs of teaching staff
expressed through consultations.
HIV in Schools' sets out schools' responsibilities towards children affected and
infected by HIV. It includes advice on first aid, confidentiality, discrimination
legislation, creating a supportive environment and presents case studies.
Lessons learned: This resource was developed through the demand from the
children's HIV sector, who wanted clear guidance for schools after voluntary
or accidental' disclosure. Also, schools and education authorities, which felt
ill informed when this issue arose. Near to the point of publication, the DfES
withdrew its support, as it felt current generic disability and children with
medical needs guidance for schools gave adequate cover and information. The
Children and Young People HIV Network believed this resource too important to
delay and published the resource.
Recommendations: To date, over 4,000 copies of "HIV in Schools' have been
requested and distributed to schools and education authorities throughout the

UK. Schools need information about the realities of living with HIV to improve
their understanding and the education they offer on this topic, to challenge
prejudice and stigma and to support some of their most vulnerable pupils.

Monday
14 August
Poster,
Exhibition

XVI INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE * 13-18 AUGUST 2006 * TORONTO CANADA * ABSTRACT BOOK VOLUME 1