AfriComNet

Experts Examine HIV Prevention among Couples
Over 100 experts in HIV communication, program implementation and policy formulation met in Johannesburg to address HIV prevention among married and cohabiting couples in Africa. The meeting was organised by AfriComNet from 11th to the 13th August at the Gold Reef City Convention Centre.

“HIV transmission within couples is a major challenge in Africa,” said AfriComNet Board Chairman, Peter Mwarogo. “This meeting will bring together people from all over Africa to exchange good and promising practices in addressing the issue.”
“The problems aren’t new, but people are starting to look at them in new ways, and even beginning to question what the word ‘couple’ really means in diverse cultures and what this means for HIV prevention programmes,” stated international public health specialist, Helen Epstein, who delivered the keynote address of the practicum.
“Some very creative thinking is needed, so bringing together so many people with deep experience on the continent is crucial,” she added.
Below are the practicum presentations;
DAY 1, August 11th, 2010
Keynote address/Presentation;
HIV/AIDS in East and Southern Africa: The Risk of HIV infection in intimate relationships; Helen Epstein
Research to Action

• Behavioural Drivers of MCP in Southern Africa ; Harriet Perlman, Soul City Institute Health and Development Communication

• Bisexual Concurrency, Bisexual Partnerships, and HIV among Southern Africa Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) ; Gift Trapence, Centre for the Development of People Malawi

Behavior Change Communication: Reducing MCP

• “Get Off The Sexual Network: One Love”; Daudi Ochieng ,Uganda Health Marketing Group

• A Regional Communication Campaign to address Multiple Concurrent Partners Evidence, challenges & opportunities ; Rayhana Rassool , Soul City Regional Programme

• “Scrutinize” HIV Prevention Campaign; Richard Delate, JHESA

AfriComNet Award Finalist Presentations

• Addressing Multiple Concurrent Partnerships in Namibia "Break the Chain" Take Control HIV & AIDS Media Campaign; Karin Kadhikwa, NawaLife Trust

DAY 2, August 12th, 2010
PRESENTATIONS
Couple Counseling and Testing

• “Go Together, Know Together” Campaign: Promoting Couples HIV Counseling and Testing in Uganda ; Dr. Tumwesigye Benson, Ministry of Health, Uganda

• Scaling Up Couples Counseling and Testing and Identifying Discordant Couples in Rwanda’s National HIV Program ; TRACPlus, Ministry of Health

• Cost of averting HIV infections in Africa ; Susan Allen MD MPH, Rwanda- Zambia HIV Research Group Emory University

• Prove Your Love:
  The impact of targeted communications on couples uptake of HIV counseling and Testing services in Mozambique; Nely Honwana, PSI/ Mozambique

• Using community based counselors to increase uptake of HIV counseling and testing among couples in Mozambique; Nely Honwana, PSI/ Mozambique

• Couples HIV Counseling and Testinat “Dushishoze” Youth Centers ; Concessa Mukamusoni, PSI/Rwanda

Promoting PMTCT

• New approaches in prevention: Reaching HIV-negative pregnant women; Mary Pat Kieffer, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

• Interactive Mobile Phone Service (SmsMessaging) Proficiency in Preventing Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in rural poor communities in Uganda ; Sarah Nalule and Betty N. Walakira, Health Child

After the Test

• Impact of couples’ testing after the test; Susan Allen MD MPH , Rwanda-Zambia HIV Research Group Emory Eniversity

• Rolling out CVCT in Zambia ; Jacqueline Bunnell, Zambia HIV Research Project (ZEHRP)

• Preventing HIV SERO conversion amongst discordant couples; Churchill Alumasa, Discordant Couples of Kenya

• Gender Differences Regarding Barriers and Motivators of HIV Status Disclosure among HIV Positive Service Users; Alemayehu Amberbir, Ethiopia.

AfriComNet Finalist Presentations

• True Manhood’ Trigger Videos ; Emebet Wuhib Mutungi and Irene Kulabako, Communication for Development Foundation Uganda

• NawaSport programme; Salenia Engelbrecht, NawaLife Trust

• Inform Educate and Entertain; Mefthe Tadesse, BBC World Service Trust Ethiopia

DAY 3, August 13th, 2010
PRESENTATIONS
Condom Use

• Combining condom promotion with family planning messages: the case of HIV prevention among casual labourers in the SONY sugar belt ; Justus B. Aungo & Serah Malaba , CHF-CRED

• A Dynamic Approach to Condom Promotion in Togo for Effective Prevention of HIV; Damien Amoussou,The National Aids Council and PSI-Togo

• Using integrated service delivery to provide condom education, access and promotion for marginalized communities in Northern Kenya ; Shanni Wreford-smith ,Rose Kimanzi, Serah Malaba and Jack Owiti, CHF-CRED

Working with Couples in Communities

• HIV Prevention in Married and or Cohabiting Couples in Africa; Enock Musungwini, MASO Zimbabwe

• Sexual Networks , false sense of security and HIV transmission among the Johane Marange Apostolic Church of Zimbabwe; Pemberai Zambezi, Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT) Zimbabwe

• Supporting Young Married Adolescent Women & Their Partners; Margaret Brawley, PATH Kenya

HANDOUTS FOR PARTICIPANTS:

• Integrating and Scaling Up Prevention with Positives Interventions in Clinical Settings: The Kenyan Experience

• Making Marriage Safer

• Effective Advocacy and Communication for Family Planning / Reproductive Health

• Being a Mentor: A Guide to Supporting Young Married Adolescent Women

• In Sickness and in Health Helping Health Workers to Support HIV-Discordant Couples

• A guide to building a long-lasting and happy relationship with one sexual partner.

• Update on Uganda’s National Couples HIV Counseling and Testing Campaign

• Strategic Considerations for communications on: Multiple & concurrent partnerships within broader HIV Prevention in Southern Africa