Gunning down the new infections and scaling up HIV Prevention; a case study of the Uganda Uniformed forces in collaboration with TASO Uganda

1. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
Gunning Down New Infections and Scaling up
HIV Prevention, A case study of The Uganda
Uniformed Forces in collaboration with TASO
Uganda.
Presentation at the :
Second HIV Capacity Building Partner’s Summit ,Birchwood Hotel and
Conference Centre, Johannesburg SouthAfrica, 19 th-21st March 2013
Presenting Author: Goretti Nakabugo,
Co Authors: Maria Lukubo, Odoi Charles
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

2. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
Uganda Picture
 Population 32 million (UBOS 2010)
 HIV Prevalence 7.3% (Uganda AIS, 2011)
 2010 New infections 130,000 (UAIS,2011)
 Highest among Most at Risk Populations/Key
Populations; CSW, Fishing communities and Mobile
populations (Uniformed forces)
 Mainly because of risk-taking lifestyles; 89% of new infections
occur due to multiple concurrent partnerships
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

3. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

4. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
National HIV Prevention Strategy 2011-2015
Focus areas include;
 Reinvigoration of HIV Prevention in the country
 increase adoption of safer sexual behaviors
and reduce risk taking behaviors.
 Increase the coverage and effectiveness of HIV
prevention interventions to the known sources of
new HIV infections
 Target population groups that are most at risk
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

5. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
TASO Background
 Begun 1987
 Mission: Preventing
HIV infection,
restoring hope and
improving the quality
of life of PLHIV,
families and
communities affected
by HIV infection and
disease
 Has 11 centers.
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

6. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
TASO’s Core Activities
 Comprehensive HIV Prevention Services
 HIV Counseling, Care and Support Services
 HIV and AIDS Treatment
 Training and Capacity Development
 Advocacy and Networking
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

7. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
HIV Prevention Program among Uniformed
 Civil Society Fund (CSF) supported TASO to
conduct HIV Prevention interventions in 4
districts in Uganda
 Started Sept 2011- 2012
 Focused on 3 uniformed categories; Army,
Police, Prisons and their spouses
 Globally Uniformed services, face a serious
risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted
infections (STIs)
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

8. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
Risk factors for Uniformed forces
 People in armed forces are often subject to
deployments away from home
 They are also often paid their salaries when
away from home
 Have liquid cash in pocket, it is easy to be
tempted to alcohol and casual sex.
 Risk of death at the battlefront instigates
fatalistic attitudes among soldiers therefore
HIV Prevention is not a priority
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

9. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
Key interventions/Approaches used
 Meetings with heads of uniformed institutions
 Selection of peers to cater for all category of
cadre, units in uniformed institutions
 3 day initial training conducted
 Monthly follow up sessions
 Certification after 6 months
 End of project evaluation
 Continue to serve as Peer counselors for HIV
Prevention.
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

10. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
Interactive training methodologies
.
.
 Value clarification  Spin the Beer bottle
 Self risk assessment game to address alcohol
 Condom game
 Body mapping exercise
 Story telling
 Stage Behavior change
model
Note :Respect ranks
however ensure all
participate
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

11. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
Results
153 Uniformed services trained
7383 Uniformed Peers and spouses reached with HIV Prevention messages
 Condom use and safe male circumcision have been adopted as the main HIV prevention strategies for
this target group.
 Condom distribution points were established to ensure there are no stock outs
HIV+ Peers are referred for care
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

12. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
Participant demonstrating use of
female condom
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

13. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
Lessons Learnt
 Comprehensive HIV prevention services at
the workplace are necessary for this group
 Increased uptake of HCT and SMC
 Condom use is a major HIV prevention
strategy
 Intervention cost effective, training venue
was provided by Army
 TASO built new partnership with high-risk
communities and enrolled them into care
 Uniformed personnel are key change agents in their
communities AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
THE
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

14. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
Acknowlegement
Special Thanks to:
•Uniformed men and Women
•TASO
•Civil Society Fund (CSF)
•RATN for scholarship
•Summit Organizers
•Co-authors
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288

15. The AIDS Support Organization, TASO (U) LTD
Contact Author on :
Goretti Nakabugo
TASO Training centre
Email: nakabugog@tasouganda.org
gorenaks@yahoo.com
THE AIDS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (TASO),
Email: mail@tasouganda.org. Website: www.tasouganda.org. P.O Box 10443, Tel: +256 414 532580/1, Fax +256 414 541288