This is a continuing activity. The Addis Ababa University (AAU) HIV/AIDS program has two goals. The first goal is to enhance behavior change and increase use of HIV/AIDS services among students on 16 AAU campuses given their vulnerability to HIV infection. Behavior change activities are based on a peer education approach called Modeling and Reinforcement to Combat HIV/AIDS (MARCH). Peer to peer outreach / behavior modeling will be done through small groups and multi-media. The second goal is to strengthen pre-service education for AAU students and in-service training for HIV/AIDS health workers. AAU will mainstream HIV/AIDS training into undergraduate/graduate curriculum and provide refresher in-service training for health workers in Addis Ababa. Johns Hopkins University (JHU) will provide technical assistance to AAU in both program areas. To promote sustainability, different faculties, and departments will be involved in the program; an in-service training unit and advisory board at the AAU President's level will be established; and the existing HIV/AIDS office will assume a stronger coordination role. The AAU program supports the goals of the GOE's National Strategic Plan II (SPMII) and is aligned with the goals of the GOE and USG HIV/AIDS Partnership Framework and Global Health Initiative. A formal evaluation of MARCH is underway. Findings will guide the AAU HIV/AIDS activities. Routine monitoring of the program will be done by AAU, JHU, and technical officers from HHS/CDC. AAU is also the principal for the HRSA supported Medical Education Partnership Initiative that involves 3 local (Defense, Harwassa, Haramaya) and 4 US based universities (JHU, University of Wisconsin, Emory, UCSD) focused on improving quality of medical education and research capacity.

The government of Ethiopia has put emphasis on increasing the number of physicians and other cadres of health worker to be trained and deployed in all health facilities to meet clinical service need. The purpose of this partnership is to improve the quantity, quality and retention of medical graduates with specific skills in order to address the health needs of the country. Health Science and medical colleges/schools are the major contributors to development of skilled human resources for Ethiopias health workforce.

During COP 13 CDC closely work with AAU MEPI program in the development of annual plan, assessment of program implementation and monitoring activities. Design a mechanism on how to support to the new medical school within the region with skilled instructors to improve the quality of education of the New Medical Education Initiative and IESO

During COP 13 AAU will closely work with the partner to transition all pre and in-service training activities and implement all programs with minimal technical support from JHU.

The AAU HIV/AIDS prevention activities will target peer education interventions to 30,000 students and 5,000 staff on 16 campuses to increase delaying sexual debut, fidelity and abstinence and use of key HIV services. As appropriate, students and staff will be linked with HIV/AIDS services including HIV testing and counseling and sexually transmitted infection management. Over 200 student-led small group peer discussions will take place to provide opportunities for participants to practice HIV prevention skills and understand and adopt positive health-seeking behaviors. Thematic discussion topics will include social and community norms, gender-based violence and stigma and discrimination. Peer leader training and information, education and communication material and behavior change and communication material will be adapted specifically for the AAU student population, such as the AAU monthly comic book series on Life 101. The AAU will supplement peer group activities through anti AIDS clubs at different campuses and organize anti AIDS campaigns during special AAU occasions, commemorations, and holidays. The program will collaborate closely with the AAU students' Dean Office, Gender office, and Social Sciences and Public Health Department to improve intervention efforts to reach the female student population.

The AAU HIV/AIDS prevention activities will target peer education interventions to 30,000 students and 5,000 staff on 16 campuses to increase delaying sexual debut, fidelity and abstinence, correct/consistent condom use and use of key HIV services. As appropriate, students and staff will be linked with HIV/AIDS services including HIV testing and counseling and sexually transmitted infection management. Over 200 student-led small group peer discussions will take place to provide opportunities to discuss and practice HIV prevention skills and understand and adopt positive health-seeking behaviors. Peer group discussions will reach approx. 2000 students. In addition, 24 condom outlets will be established on the campuses. Thematic discussion topics will include social and community norms, gender-based violence and stigma and discrimination. Approximately, 400 students will receive an HIV/AIDS certificate for being trained and organizing five peer outreach groups. Student peer leader training and information, education and communication material and behavior change and communication material will be adapted specifically for the AAU student population. An example is the AAU monthly comic book series on Life 101, a print serial drama, that will targeted to at least 14,000 students. The AAU will supplement peer group activities through anti AIDS clubs at different campuses and organize anti AIDS campaigns during special AAU occasions, commemorations, and holidays. The program will collaborate closely with the AAU students' Dean Office, Gender Office, and Social Sciences and Public Health Department to improve intervention efforts to reach the female student population. AAU will adapt and use the newly developed GOE Package of Services for MARPs and other highly vulnerable population as its main tool to guide interventions. To ensure quality control, the AAU will standardize its approach in the 16 campuses. In addition, the AAU will provide regular quarterly progress reports.

AAU will continue with mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS training into graduate and undergraduate curriculm of various disciplines, such as the social science and health science fields. Different colleges, faculties, and departments of the university will be actively involved in HIV/AIDS activities based on their areas of specialty and comparative advantages. For example, the College of Medicine will be involved in curriculum development related to ART and the School of Public Health will be involved in curriculum development on prevention. AAU will scale-up its HIV/AIDS services for students and staff, specifically HTC and TB/HIV services at student clinics and strengthening referral linkages with nearest health facilities. AAU aims to expand HTC services to 1315 students and staff which is a 20% increase from the prior year. With JHU technical assistance, the AAU will establish a training unit to provide refresher in-service training for health workers who are working in Addis Ababa providing HIV/AIDS services. Additionally AAU will strengthen medical and other health-related education pre-service training curriculum by updating current curriculum, training of instructors and teaching staff and providing training/teaching aids and material. AAU will provide technical assistance in national strategy development and planning to the Federal MOH as they continue to expand HIV/AIDS services nationally. In addition, the AAU will also provide support to HIV/AIDS service delivery within Addis Ababa, particularly on ART.