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TUAX0405

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TUAX0405

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  1. Increasing Access to HIV Counselling and Testing in Nigeria: A Demonstration Project Trialling the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS (GIPA) in the Workplace.M. Efuntoye1, O. Okonkwo1, G. Omoregie1, B. Musa21Society for Family Health, Abuja, Nigeria, 2 Sunglass Nigeria Limited, Kaduna, Nigeria TUAX0405

  2. Small and Medium Scale Enterprises(SMEs) in Nigeria • Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are the engine of growth in any economy. • They were defined as workplaces with staff strength of 20-150 for the purpose of this programme. • They are characterized by dynamism, innovation and their small size allows for faster decision-making processes; • While large numbers exist in Nigeria, only a few are involved in HIV intervention programmes, such as HCT provision.

  3. Issues • HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) is often problematic; • Many staff fear retaliation if they test positive and employers learn of the result. • Confidentiality of results can also be a challenge; • Staff are also concerned about social exclusion if their status is disclosed. • Can employing people living openly with HIV and AIDS increase access to HCT services?

  4. Description • An innovative demonstration project compared two intervention types: • Companies where workplace peer education was coordinated by people openly living with HIV, • Companies where peer education was coordinated by staff members whose status was unknown.

  5. Description cont’d… • Ten comparable SMEs were selected and split into two matched groups of five each. • One group of companies recruited, trained and deployed a person who was living positively and openly with HIV and AIDS • This person worked as a staff member, and also acted as a peer influencer.

  6. Description cont’d… • In addition to their normal day to day activities, the GIPA officers demonstrated how to live positively, and conducted peer education sessions; • As a result, they were able to motivate other staff to access HCT services. • The control group had peer education sessions coordinated by staff members whose status was not known.

  7. Results • After six months, companies with GIPA officer had over four times the number of staff accessing HCT services compared with the control group.

  8. Lessons Learned • The presence of a staff member living openly and positively with HIV encouraged HCT uptake; • The involvement of a PLWHA was also useful in reducing stigma and promoting care and support of workers found to be HIV positive. • Staff members became more confident to access HCT services within the company and at registered facilities. • Even in small less formal workplaces, employers can still be encouragedto provide HIV prevention services.

  9. Programmatic Implications and Next Steps • HCT services can be provided by employers to increase access. • The involvement of people living with HIV and AIDS in workplaces can motivate staff to access HCT and ART services; • It should therefore be scaled up in both informal and formal work places.

  10. Appreciation The authors wish to thank the following for providing funding and or technical support in executing this project: • The Global Fund • The Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) Nigeria • National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA) • Nigerian Business Coalition against AIDS(NIBUCCA) • Federal Ministry of Labour, Nigeria • Management of workplaces where the intervention took place.

  11. Authors’ contact information Olumuyiwa Efuntoye Society For Family Health Garki, Abuja, Nigeria. mefuntoye@sfhnigeria.org www.sfhnigeria.org, www.psi.org

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