CONCEPT PAPER

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

SSESE ISLANDS AFRICAN AIDS PROJECT, SIAAP is an HIV/AIDS Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) / Non-Profit project, registered by the NGO board in December 2004 with its operational area covering Kalangala District , Uganda . SIAAP was started by a U.S. Army officer , 1LT Frank Musisi in collaboration with the local leaders, as a community response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Kalangala district where services for counselling, testing, treatment and care are lacking. Lieutenant Musisi is also a native of Ssese Islands .

Exact figures with regards the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the district are hard to come by, because of the lack of HIV/AIDS testing centres in the district, though its estimated that of the 500 cases of TB received each year 75% of these eventually develop HIV/AIDS symptoms according to Mr. Livingstone Musoke, the district TB Supervisor.

The district for that matter does not have adequate capacity to provide institutionalized management through Voluntary Counselling, Testing, treatment and Care of persons living with HIV/AIDS including the terminally ill who require palliative care (all health services which can be given to the patients).

According to the population census of 2002, the ratio of women to men is 1:1.5, which promotes prostitution resulting in transmission of STDs. People at landing sites are crammed into shanty overcrowded living conditions. According to the locals, here the majority of the women are HIV/AIDS widows from the main land who go to these sites for economic survival and engage in prostitution thus enhancing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the district .

SIAPP intends to carry out voluntary counselling and testing services in order to obtain baseline data about the status of HIV/AIDS on the major landing sites of Kalangala district.

OBJECTIVE

To carry out sensitization and voluntary counselling testing.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

•  Carry out voluntary counselling and testing.

•  To collect data on Knowledge, attitudes and Practices regarding HIV/AIDS

•  To sensitise community through the Information, Education and Communication strategy (IEC) by advocating for the ABC strategy.

•  To mobilise communities through formation of HIV/AIDS management committees.

OUTPUTS

•  Prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS obtained

•  Current levels knowledge, attitudes and Practices obtained

•  Communities knowledge of HIV/AIDS raised

•  Community management committees formed

JUSTIFICATION

The pilot study is important, since it will assist SIAAP to come up with baseline data that will be used for continued:

•  Voluntary counselling, testing, and care.

•  Promotion of HIV/ AIDS prevention through abstinence, faithfulness and condom use

(ABC) strategy

•  Community awareness and training needs

•  Community empowerment through formation of community management committees.

AREAS OF STUDY

METHODOLOGY

COMMUNITY MOBILISATION AND SENSITISATION.

•  Sensitisation of communities around landing sites, opinion leaders and stakeholders through carrying out participatory meetings .

•  Formation of community management committees in the initial areas of operation.

COUNSELLING AND TESTING

•  Pre test counselling

•  Bleeding

•  Testing

•  Post test and Prevention counselling

•  Referrals

DATA MANAGEMENT

•  Questionnaires to be filled by Lab technicians and Counsellors

•  Data analysis through SPSS package and Excel

•  Report Writing

MATERIALS AND LOGISTICS

MATERIALS

•  Stationery

•  Banners

•  Video and deck

•  Video Camera

•  Photo Camera

•  Generator

•  Public Address System

•  Brochures

•  Flip stand

•  Condoms

LAB EQUIPEMENT

•  14000 Testing Kits DETAMINE HIV 1 and 2 and

•  3000 tests of UNIGOLD HIV1 and 2 (confirmatory tests)

•  600 tests of STAT - PAK (Tie breakers)

•  15000 Vacutainer tubes

•  15000 Vacutainer Needles and

•  15000 Vacutainer Holders

•  14000 Syphilis tests

•  10 cartons of Safety Gloves

•  Disinfectants (20 Litres of JIK)

•  Antiseptics ( 10 Litres of Spirit)

•  Safety/ Disposal Containers ( 5)

•  Bio Hazard bags

•  Sample Carriers boxes / Containers

•  Serum Racks

•  Pasteur Pipettes

LOGISTICS

•  Two vehicles

•  Motor Board Engine ( 15 Horse Power minimum), and Boat

•  2 Motor cycles / Bike

•  Fuel

•  Allowances

•  Facilitation

PERSONNEL

•  Two (2) medical doctors

•  Six (6) counsellors/ Interviewers (3 medical and 3 social counsellors)

•  Three (3) Laboratory Technologists)

•  Three (3) Phlebotomists

•  1 Data Entrant

•  4 District health officers

•  4 community leaders .

•  Statistician

ACTIVITY CHART