Year 1 Quarter 3 Report on HIV/AIDS sensitization campaign

1. Overview /Introduction

 The third quarter of the Global Funds for HIV/AIDS Project started on 29^th March, 2006. The main objective of this project is to provide training and skills on STI/HIV/AIDS prevention among youths in selected communities in Sierra Leone. Target beneficiaries of the project include youths, adolescents and school children in selected communities. The activities of the project include:

2. Situational report or summary

 è    Conducting visitation and talks in selected communities and schools.

 Visitations and talks were conducted in targeted communities and schools to inform them of the third quarter of the project whilst at the same time consulting and planning with them on appropriate days for specific project activities. Seven (7) informal and twenty two (22) formal sectors in the Freetown municipality, Barri, Kpanga Kabonde and Futa chiefdoms in the Southern Province were simultaneously visited were discussions were held with all stakeholders. Following this initial visitation, young people and other stakeholders within these communities agreed on specific dates and times for the sensitisation proper to take of grounds.

è    Series of one-day sensitizations sessions in selected communities and schools

Series of one-day and sometimes two days sensitisation sessions were held in both the formal and informal sectors within the communities we operated for the third quarter of the project. Among the communities and institutions targeted were: 

In the Freetown municipality:

In the Southern Province:

Barri

 Pejeh chiefdom

 

Bongay (pejeh)           1. Bongay Community School Massa (pejeh)             2. Massa Community Futa (pejeh)                 3. District Education Committee School Futa Kuiva (pejeh)               4. Kuiva Community School Pejewa (pejeh)            5. Pejewa Islamic Primary School  Pejewa (pejeh)           6. Pejewa Secondary School

Kpanga kabondeh     

As part of our commitment to reach out to young people in the informal sector, PCSL staff and other resource persons were able  to target within the three chiefdoms, youth groups, footballers, ghetto boys, drug users and alcoholics, cooperative farmers who form the bulk of the informal sector. Within the period of our stay for this activity, a total number of thirty groups /organizations were sensitized and a total number of two thousand and one hundred young people [2100] and other community stakeholders were reached and sensitized on STDS, HIV/AIDS related issues.

 In each of these communities and schools, PCSL resource team distributed HIV sensitization messages and made presentations on the following topics:

Basic concepts about HIV/AIDS: the immune system, the reality of the virus and the disease, symptoms of HIV infection, who has HIV etc Prevention of HIV/AIDS infection, STIs and other related complications: condom demonstration Misconceptions and Myths about HIV/AIDS The role of young people in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS Care and Support for PLWHAs Voluntary Confidential Counselling and Testing (VCCT): encouraging people to know their status by being tested voluntarily for the disease Safe Sex Techniques: assertiveness, negotiation skills, critical thinking skills etc

Presentation and discussions were followed by questions and answers. PCSL team observed the following: disbelief among some members of the audience about the existence of the HIV/AIDS; the fear of undertaking VCCT for fear of being tested positive and in the event create “shame and stigma’’; ignorance about the existence of treatment for the disease on one hand and the access to it even among those who may know about its existence.

è    TOT for youth Representatives in life skills programme

 On the 19^th to the 20^th June Training of Trainers workshop on life skills was conducted at the Barri Islamic Secondary School in Potoru. Participants from various youth groups in Barri, Futa and Pujehun were in attendance and resource persons were taken from Health Sector, NGOs and Educational institutions to facilitate the training programme.

The content of training included the following

 

The purpose of the workshop was to give 55 participants the necessary tools and knowledge to be able to conduct similar training in their respective communities and groups. At the end of the session participants were encouraged to come back with feedback as they commence the implementation of the skills they have got from the training. The TOT Manual was distributed to all participants of the workshop; this will form the basis of their intervention in their communities.

è    Training of Rural Social Animators and Peer Educators

 On the 22^nd to 23^rd June 2006, a Training of Animators’ workshop was conducted at the Barri Islamic Secondary School in Potoru. Participants were drawn from among youth representatives of groups PCSL has been working with and other youth activist in the three chiefdoms.

 The main objective of this scheme is to utilise ‘Youth resources for HIV/AIDS prevention and control’. Dedicated youth volunteers were selected from the three chiefdoms and were provided with a two-day intensive training on HIV/AIDS, first aid, life skills, peer pressure, drug and alcohol abuse etc. These volunteers were provided with a Resource Kit and an identity Card. Thus the services of 45 Trained Youth Volunteers can be ensured throughout these three chiefdoms. The services of these Rural Social animators will be a great blessing in times of handling HIV AIDS issues, drug and alcohol abuse, life skills etc.

è    Training of Counselors from youth groups

 On the 21^st &23^rd of June 2006  and on the 25^th & 27^th June 2006 training sessions for youth counselors were conducted at the PCSL conference room and at the Barri Islamic Secondary School Potoru respectively. These attracted 80 participants from among youth representatives of groups, local leaders and community workers PCSL has been working with, in the selected zones. The content of the training included:

Social workers, traditional heads of secret societies, health workers and a team of PCSL staff facilitated and served as resource persons for the sessions.

Football Gala

 On the 24th – 25^th June2006, a football gala aimed at sensitizing the youths of Pujehun District was held at D.E.C. school ground. This Gala was organised by Peace Child Sierra Leone. During the opening ceremony, traditional dancers (bubu), the Paramount chief and other distinguished personalities graced the occasion. This football gala attracted well over a thousand and five hundred [1500] spectators who were also educated about the pandemic that is eating into the fabric of our country. It lasted for two days and at the closing ceremony, a package worth 200 thousand leones was given to the winner of the championship trophy together with certificates and other consolation prizes for the runners up. Spectators were also sensitized on HIV/AIDS prevention and control. Posters, stickers, t-shirts and banners with messages of HIV/AIDS prevention and control were also disseminated to spectators.

è    Development and Dissemination of IEC Materials

Information, Education and Communication materials depicting HIV/AIDS related issues were developed. These included t- shirts, posters, signposts, billboards and flyers which were disseminated in all operational areas in the western area and Pujehun District of Sierra Leone.

The following were the objectives of the project:

These objectives were carried out in the form of visitations and talks, sensitisation sessions, trainings and workshops, traditional dance and a football gala.

 Training of peer educators and animators was held on the 22^nd to 23^rd June 2006, at the Barri Islamic Secondary School in Potoru. Participants were drawn from three chiefdoms and the average number was 45 participants.

 Training of trainers’ workshop was held on the 19^th to the 20^th June 2006 at about 9:00 at the Barri Islamic Secondary School. Participants were drawn from three chiefdoms and the average number was 55 from all chiefdoms together. Various topics highlighted above were discussed. The workshops ended with refreshments for participants followed by disbursement of transport allowances.

Training of counsellors workshops were also conducted in Pujehun on the 21^st to the 23^rd of June 2006. Various topics that centred on HIV/AIDS were discussed. The total numbers of participants in these sessions were more than 20 from each of the chiefdoms bringing the number to a total of 60 participants. In the western area also 20 young participants were trained in similar skills to match with the growing risk posed by the pandemic.

  On the 24^{th –} 25^th June2006, a football gala aimed at sensitising the youths of Pujehun district was held at the Barri Field in Potoru town. The match started at exactly 4:00 pm   and attracted over a thousand and five hundred [1500] spectators from the district.

 Aside the participants that were trained to become counselors and peer educators, the organization also embarked on a series of Sensitisation process in both the Western Area and the three chiefdoms in the Pujehun district. Approximately about three thousand young people and other stake holders (3,000) were reached in the whole exercise.

4. Plans for next quarter

 PCSL’s future plans for the next quarter will be centered in the two chiefdoms in Pujehun District, and the western Area of Sierra Leone and the line of activities will be the same as that of other quarters.

 Pujehun is a marginalized and disadvantaged district and a gate way area into neighboring Liberia and also strategically placed with two major military base, one in Bo and the other in the Pujehun town and also prone to cross boundary interventions which in itself is a risk and is highly populated with people of diverse nationalities including labour migrants and multinationals. Because of this backdrop and the estimated 5% presence of HIV/AIDS there is a likelihood for an increase in this figure if ultimate and squarely measures are not taken to forestall this unfortunate pandemic. One of the main barriers to control the spread of HIV/AIDS in this country is the low awareness of the danger it poses, or even its existence at all.  Lack of adequate information on the disease is spurred due to illiteracy, the presence of certain myths and traditional misconceptions.  This in turn results in a general reluctance to be tested, and creates an awkward silence which must be broken if we are to get anywhere in this all-important battle.

 The war is ended and Pujehun is being rebuilt with a massive influx of people and the poverty that much of its population has found itself in suggest an urgent need for intervention, especially with the aim of spreading awareness of HIV/AIDS and STIs, reducing the number involved in sex-work, counseling those who have been abused, and encouraging alternative income-generating activities. The majority of cases of HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone are found amongst youths aged 15-34 years.  Although, the main reason for this is that these are the most sexually active years of life, the concentration for this is reinforced by several factors particularly in the Sierra Leonean context.  Sex Education is still considered taboo in many communities, which further escalates young people’s vulnerability as they lack access to adequate and accurate information, and skills in communication and negotiation. Youths can easily be influenced by their peers, or coerced by elders into sexual activities which might be counterproductive in the future.

 It is against this backdrop that PCSL will be embarking on a massive sensitisation campaign to educate the youths and general populace of selected chiefdoms in the Pujehun Districts about HIV/AIDS and its related complications.

5. Constraints and Recommendations

In the implementation of the programme the following constraints were encountered:

·         Meagre resources and distant implementing zones:

 

In implementing the project PCSL encountered problems with the meager resources that were allocated and because of this there was no money allocated for local heads who served as links between us and their people. These local heads expected something from us at the end of the project but unfortunately there was none. The lack of money was exacerbated by the distant implementing zones. Projects in distant provincial towns accrue large transportation costs. Further, given the antiquated road system it takes a lot of time navigating between localities.

 

·        Slow disbursement process:

 

The manner in which monies and logistics were disbursed for the implementation of projects was very slow. This posed many problems for example; the project fell behind schedule, resources promised at the beginning didn’t arrive on time requiring additional payments to obtain many necessary items.

The following recommendations could therefore be made so that the aforementioned constraints will not be encountered:

1.             Monies should be allocated for local heads who served as links between us and           their people. These are respectable heads in their community and are very vital         in the projects.   2.             Resources for visitations should be increased especially when implementing in provincial towns. This will make sub-recipients venture out to the provinces.   These people need the message like any other people.   3.             The manner in which resources and logistics were disbursed should be effective           and efficient so as not to tamper with implementation dates. This will also help             in the reporting of project activities.

6. Conclusion

The sensitization of youths on HIV/AIDS and related issues is a right step in this direction. This will help greatly in combating the disease and progressing towards an HIV/AIDS free nation. Information goes a long way in educating the people especially the youths of Sierra Leone about this killer disease that is a threat to both the economic and human resource base of Sierra Leone. What therefore needs to be done is to put all hands on deck to stop this dreadful disease.