HIV/AIDS mainstreaming appraches and strategies

Introduction:

UCBP initiated HIV/AIDS external mainstreaming in October 2006 and organized workplace HIV/AIDS intervention sensitization workshop in December and March 2007 for top management of companies with contractual agreement with the UCBP. In addition, HIV/AIDS focal persons at each UCBP site GIZ IS office assigned in March 2007. These focal persons are responsible for HIV/AIDS prevention activities supplementary to their daily activities. They also closely work with governmental and non governmental organizations in their locality.

Approaches:
There are two target groups in the External HIV/AIDS Mainstreaming program: the first group refers those companies with contractual agreement with UCBP while the second target groups are construction workers at site level

• Company Level activities: At company level the objective is to enable companies to develop their own workplace HIV/AIDS policy and sustain the program in their work setting. So far, 25 company focal persons are trained in two rounds from Tier I, II and III. Technical support also provided to those Tier III companies participated in the trainings. This includes provision of teaching materials, technical assistance on how to develop HIV/AIDS workplace policies and related activities.

Strategies/approaches for company level activities include:

• Development of Workplace policy: Provide technical support on how to develop HIV/AIDS workplace policy. Follow ups and supervisions will be given to the companies. They will also receive a draft workplace policy where they can modify it to feet the need of their own company
• Provide training for HIV/AIDS focal persons: Different trainings and periodical meetings will be organize for company HIV/AIDS focal persons to empower them to lead HIV/AIDS prevention and Care activities at their respective companies
• Provide technical and material support: Provide appropriate teaching materials to the companies as well as technical support through various communication channels.
• Networking: Networking companies in UCBP with strategic partners who can support the companies in different ways
• Site level Activities: At site level the objective is to enable construction workers to protect themselves from HIV infection; and to enable them to avoid any type of stigma and discrimination to those construction workers who disclose their HIV status or suspected to live with HIV.

Strategies/approaches for site level activities include:

• Peer Education: Train and deploy peer educators to reach as many construction workers as possible
• Organize mass educational events: together with different organizations working in the respective local area focal persons organize educational events for all construction workers at the sites.
• Mini media Program: Facilitate mini-media programs and reach construction workers (it is already implemented in some sites)Distribution of condoms: Condoms are purchased by UCBP and distributed at each site using condom dispensaries. In most sites there is at least one condom dispensary at each lot and refilling is conducted by peer educators and HIV/AIDS focal persons
• Distribution of helmets and different educational materials: A total of 20,000 helmets with HIV/AIDS messages “Safety First” are produced by GTZ IS together with DKT Ethiopia which is a social marking organization for Condoms and family planning methods in Ethiopia.
• Facilitate Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) events: After the peer education as well as all activities conducted, Voluntary Counseling and Testing will be organized at the site. Different organizations which can provide the service for free, will be approached by the HIV/AIDS focal persons to be followed by mobilization activities before the testing team arrives at the site.

Results:

Company level:

• A total of 25 Tier I, II and III companies are trained on workplace HIV/AIDS prevention activities and started intervention. Three companies have drafted their workplace policy.
• All companies availed educational materials to their staff members at their head offices
• Some companies organized awareness creation activities for their staff members after the training
• Trainings on HIV/AIDS were provided to TEVT teachers and UCBP national skill up-graders as part of their training package at the CEE.

Site level:

• Peer educators selected from construction companies, trained and deployed to educate their co-workers
• Different educational mass events such as video shows, personal testimonials of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) , dramas and lectures conducted
• 200,000 pcs of Condoms distributed to construction workers for the period of October 2007 to September 2008; another 224, 640 pcs of condoms handed over at the 15 sites.
• Of the total 20, 000 helmets, more than 14,000 helmets distributed to UCBP site construction workers.
• Among the various VCT events the following table shows number of people tested and those who became HIV positive in some selected sites.

The HIV/AIDS mainstreaming Coordinator provides overall technical support to focal persons both at site and company level in implementing their activities. On the other hand, during the implementation process, it was observed that the peer educators’ training at site level is not standardized and there is difference among sites in terms of the content and duration of the training. This is because they conduct the training based on the availability and collaboration of organizations in their locality. In order to reduce the limitations, a 44 page handbook of peer educators prepared and distributed to focal persons. This handbook will be a standardized reference material for peer educators and also will be a base for site level peer education trainings. On the other hand, presentation was made to UCBP staff and Site Managers at the monthly breakfast and Site managers’ meeting respectively.