1 / 18

HIV Vulnerability Along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor - A Perspective from West Africa-

HIV Vulnerability Along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor - A Perspective from West Africa-. Drs. Justin KOFFI, Leopoldine de Souza. AIDS 2008 Satellite "Sex by the side of the road" - HIV vulnerability along road transport corridors in Africa  . Outline. Introduction/Justification

ataret
Download Presentation

HIV Vulnerability Along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor - A Perspective from West Africa-

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. HIV Vulnerability Along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor - A Perspective from West Africa- Drs. Justin KOFFI, Leopoldine de Souza AIDS 2008 Satellite "Sex by the side of the road" - HIV vulnerability along road transport corridors in Africa  

  2. Outline • Introduction/Justification • The Abidjan-Lagos corridor • HIV vulnerabilities along the corridor • The ALCO Project • The ALCO Strategies • Achievements • Lessons Learned • Conclusion & acknowledgements

  3. Mobility identified as a risk factor for HIV infection Migration increases unsafe sexual behaviour Communities along migratory axes exposed to HIV Few sub-regional responses Introduction/Justification

  4. HIV vulnerability factors along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor High HIV prevalence rates among truck drivers & CSWs and at borders Hot spots for Sex Work Sex with non regular Partner Low condom use Migration and Delays at borders Low knowledge of STI and HIV/AIDS National HIV prevention programs weak at border communities & Lack suitable regional framework

  5. The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organization (ALCO) Project Established in 2001 by Govts. of the 5 countries (Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria) Project Development Objective: To increase access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care services for vulnerable populations along the Abidjan-Lagos transport corridor, presently underserved by national responses. Target population: Truckers, transport sector workers Commercial sex workers Uniform service personnel Local border communities Other migrant populations Funding: World Bank (2003-2007), Counterpart funding by member countries, Global Fund (2007 – to date), Technical Assistance: UNAIDS

  6. ALCO Strategy 1: Comprehensive Institutional Framework UNAIDS/ World Bank ECOWAS, ETC. Global Fund Regional CCM 5 CCM’s PGB Principal Recipient ICAC ALCO Executive Secretariat FP RCI FP GH FP TG FP BN FP NG SUB-RECIPEINTS (8): Health, IEC/BCC, Transport, C&S, IGA, M&E, Social Marketing, Mass Media Sub Sub-recipients: NGOs, Health centers, Border committees, Trade unions, CBOs, FBOs, Religious leaders, etc.

  7. ALCO Strategy 2: Harmonization of policies, strategies & methodologies • Synergies between 5 national AIDS programs and the sub-regional program enhanced • Forming of border HIV/AIDS and transport facilitation committees and networks (PLHIV, faith-based …)

  8. ALCO Strategy 3: Increased Access to Prevention services • Love Life Caravan, Annual HIV/AIDS Awaress Rally • Regional Condom brand (Migrant & Femigrant)

  9. ALCO Strategy 4: The VOICE of ALCO (Radio, TV & Billboards) • Partnerships with Community radios and TV stations • Giant billboards along the corridor

  10. The ALCO Strategy 5: Transport Facilitation • Advocacy for reduction in police check points • Sensitization of heads of uniformed service personnel • Sensitization and training of uniformed personnel members of border committees Group picture of participants at the regional consultation on transport facilitation with heads of customs, immigration, police, transport and national media of the member countries A team of Observatory at one of the corridor borders 10

  11. Achievements: Increased use of condoms

  12. Achievements: Increased knowledge of HIV/AIDS

  13. Achievements: Increased VCT uptake

  14. Achievements: decline in STIs

  15. Achievements: Decline in HIV prevalence

  16. Complementarity with national AIDS programs: Regional HIV/AIDS programs are most effective when they complement national programs Design of the project: Innovative and heavily relied on a participatory process that engaged a variety of stakeholders. Involvement of NGOs and PLHIV contributes to the efficiency of medical care of patients and community support of PLHIV and OVC Political will and the commitment of government authorities of the five Countries were essential factors for success The A-Z of this initiative is summarized in our Compendium of Best Practices Lessons Learned

  17. The lessons learned and key indicators for success of the ALCO Project, can be shared with similar regional projects that have to contend with “sex by the side of the road”. ALCO wishes to acknowledge: The World Bank, UNAIDS, Global Fund, ILO, ECOWAS, GTZ, WAHO, Coca-cola foundation, North Star foundation Conclusion & Acknowledgements

  18. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION END OF PRESENTATION

More Related