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 APA are implementing HIV/AIDS Programmes that are impacting over 12 Million people.
APA are implementing HIV/AIDS Programmes in Ethiopia - Amhara Region, North & South Gondar zones, East Gojam zone, awi and West Gojam zone and Metekel Zone. In Tanzania in the District Bagomoyo and on the Island of Zanazibar and Pemba.
The programmes follow a multisectoral approach with a high priority given to training persons at all levels as outlined below.
Overall objectives:
1. To promote the multisectoral approach by establishing coordination committees at various levels and involving entire communities to tackle the problem of HIV/AIDS.
2. To facilitate a sustainable social, human and economic development in the intervention area through capacity building in the existing local structures.
Methodology
Facilitation role of APA
Implementation of the programmes is carried out jointly by CVM & APA and the local structures where CVM plays a facilitating role. Implementation through the existing structures be they Regional, Zonal/District (Province), Wereda/Ward (County) and right down to Kebelle/community level. People of these local structures consist of the heads of all government departments from all levels: administration, health, agriculture, education, labour and social affairs, sport, culture, youth, women, environment, etc and religious leaders.
Trained people then form a Coordinating Committee at which ever level they belong to. Committee members are trained regarding the problem of HIV/AIDS and how each one of them through their office can act in preventing HIV and promoting the caring for persons living with AIDS and orphans through their own structures reaching right down into the villages.
It is not the intention of APA/CVM to create alternative structures or duplicates but rather to empower local personnel and structures to address the problem themselves.
Formation of Committees
The empowered HIV/AIDS Coordination Committees will become active leaders in their communities to ensure the full involvement of all members. The responsibility of the implementation of the project will lie with them, from Regional right down to Community Committees reaching right into the grassroots. The whole civil society, politicians, and faith-based institutions, private enterprises etc are involved in a coordinated manner tackling the problem. The participation of religious leaders is particularly important because of their influential role in the African society and are highly esteemed. Peoples of different levels of education or social background are involved in understanding the seriousness of the problem, and in working together to fight the epidemic. The committees receive orientation and training, resulting in their improved competences in planning and implementing activities, accessing funds, monitoring, evaluation and reporting skills.
"Adhering to the principle of multisectorality through involving public, private and civil society sectors maximizes resources—financial and otherwise—for the response to AIDS in countries. It allows countries to move away from depending on external support for AIDS activities, and towards national autonomy"
- (UNAIDS 2004 Report on the global AIDS epidemic).
Building the capacity through training trusted community members (teachers, religious, women, youth, agricultural workers, orphans, girls, health personnel etc) is a direct consequence of the multisectoral approach. It creates comprehensive groups focusing on addressing the problem. Through the training of community members – it will allow that within all small villages, trained persons are present to promote the involvement of all its members. All of this fosters a sustainable social, human and economic development as all the energies/competence of a District, Ward, Village or community are pooled to tackle the HIV/AIDS problem which right now is one of the greatest causes of poverty and human discrimination in Africa.
Specific objectives:
- To support local communities to actively address the problem of HIV/AIDS,
- foster institutional, family and community care for PLWAs and orphans;
- reduce women’s vulnerability; reduce stigma and discrimination.
This implies that communities will be empowered to confront the epidemic themselves; through the greater involvement and coordination of committees, action of public services, the private sector, religious institutions, Community Based Organizations, etc back up support will be present in communities.
“Few communities recognized the dangers ahead, and even fewer were able to mount an effective response. And still, AIDS expands relentlessly, destroying people’s lives and in many cases seriously damaging the fabric of societies”
- (UNAIDS, 2004).
Trained persons will be the corners stones in which the Region, District, or community can understand the problem, its implications, and what needs to be undertaken in order to control and prevent the infection locally and care for PLWAs and orphans. Once a District or community embarks on this road, as has been our experience in Ethiopia and Tanzania energy is created, a sense of responsibility is taken and it’s hard to be blocked. The empowering of people at all levels has a deeper impact. With continuous animation, meetings, information sharing, the trained people, with the support of the Regional or District Head, can become alive re the problem of HIV/AIDS. As District leaders take up the challenge along with trained District trainers and the trained counsellors and communicators etc at the lower levels.
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