HIV and AIDS programming in 2006
Concern’s policy supports the right to health, protection, education and treatment. It supports the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) 2006 Political Declaration goal of ‘universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010, and the Millennium Development Goal targets on health.
Concern supports 24 programmes across 13 countries. The programme benefits 0.2 million people directly and a further 2.1 million, indirectly.
The range of activities is huge and is only briefly indicated below.
The mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS in all of Concern's programmes has been central to the organisation’s response to the epidemic. By mainstreaming we mean ensuring that we are conscious of the impact of each and all of our activities on those impacted by HIV and AIDS. In simple terms it means that Concern deliberately structure and carry out all activities so that they reduce – or at least do not increase - the impact or incidence of HIV and AIDS. To ensure that Concern continue to meet this objective each country office has carried out awareness raising and education sessions with all staff. Regional advisors have also been appointed to assist countries with the process. Mainstreaming is an ongoing rather than a once of process and continues to raise issues which we address in our programming.
The pandemic is increasing the need for social protection, i.e. welfare programmes aimed at the victims of HIV and AIDS and their dependants. It would be impossible for an organization of Concern’s size to provide welfare on the scale required, however it has responded to the need in two main ways; by encouraging governments and donors to develop the necessary national welfare programmes and by implementing its own smaller scale programmes where the national ones are incomplete or ineffective. Zambia and Kenya provide examples of the two approaches.
- In Zambia the epidemic is impacting heavily on households who are finding their asset base (particularly adult labour) increasingly eroded; grandmother headed households supporting orphans are becoming more and more common. During 2006 Concern worked closely with the government of Zambia to encourage it to develop welfare programmes for those hardest-hit. These efforts were successful and are expected to result in extensive welfare programmes in 2007 and subsequent years.
- In Kenya Concern introduced food and nutrition support programmes targeting
the poorest bed-ridden people living with HIV and AIDS, as well as orphans and other vulnerable children.
Concern firmly believes that education and awareness-raising are key to slowing
the spread of HIV and AIDS. During 2006 we engaged in a variety of activities to promote awareness of the epidemic e.g.
- In Kenya Concern engaged in community based educational activities which have resulted in a greater uptake of voluntary counselling and testing services and in greater awareness of the rights of people affected by HIV and AIDS.
- In Sudan 18,300 people have received information through community information
sessions. It is planned to assess the impact of these sessions through a Knowledge,
Attitude, Practice and Behaviour (KAPB) study in 2007. - In Somalia 19,898 people, 37% of whom were female, received an information session on HIV and AIDS and the risk factors associated with HIV.
During 2006 Concern engaged in advocacy for improved treatment and increased rights of the victims of HIV and AIDS. This took place at both national and international level.
- In Rwanda, Concern assisted NGO partners and local government to develop advocacy strategies to create a more supportive environment for people infected or affected by HIV and AIDS.
- In Kenya Concern worked with local agencies to block the passage of an intellectual property measure which would have made it impossible for Kenya to manufacture or import generic anti-retroviral drugs.
- In Somalia and Sudan, Concern worked with local organisations who successfully
advocated to local government and hospitals for increased focus on HIV.
