This is a new activity for this partner and is funded through Field Support. This AB activity is related to: USAID_HVAB_Activity 8231, Samaritan Purse's Track One activity for $520,960.48 and USAID_HVCT_Activity 9256, Samaritan Purse's new Community Based Counseling and Testing activity for $100,000.

This funding will allow Samaritan's Purse (SP) to: 1) Expand MET activities to Jangamo district in Inhambane. 2) Increased program activities aimed at adults and higher risk populations in Jangamo, Maxixe and Massinga. 3) Organize a provincial HIV prevention technical workshop for MET staff, Government of Mozambique staff and other NGOs.

Jangamo is a PEPFAR target district with currently just one other PEPFAR partner implementing AB programs According to 1997 census data, Jangamo has an estimated population of 81,210, with an estimated youth population of 25,905.

Program activities will mobilize churches and communities to advocate healthy behavior change for both youth and adults. AB focused HIV prevention activities targeting youth and activities targeting adults and higher risk populations (i.e. miners, migrant workers) will be implemented with a stronger focus on increasing risk perception.

Start up activities aimed at youth will follow a similar framework used for current MET programs. Both in and out-of-school youth will participate in lessons following an AB curriculum taught in schools, church and community settings. Activities include facilitation of workshops from the MET Approach for Primary Behavior Change in Youth, recruitment of committed workshop participants, and formation of youth clubs to increase self perception of risk and actively promote healthy behavior change. Youth leaders and school teachers will be trained in a two- part intensive workshop and then be used to lead and out reach to youth in their spheres of influence.

To specifically address adults and higher risk populations, a B-based curriculum will be developed or adapted from other partners operating in Mozambique. Behaviors for discussion will include multiple, concurrent sexual partnerships, transactional sex, cross-generational sex, sexual violence and coercion, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as other behaviors and norms identified by the communities. A two- part intensive workshop will train men and women of influence in communities and mobilize them to increase individual risk perception among community members and to promote healthy behaviors and relationships around them. Community forums for discussion, as well as support groups for men, women, and couples that are married or unmarried, will be introduced. Activities focused on faithfulness will include information on the risks of multiple concurrent partnerships, and the importance of knowing your and your partner's HIV status as key to reducing one's risk through "B" behaviors.

The program's main emphasis area is community mobilization. Key legislative issues addressed are Gender and Stigma. This community based activity targets children and youth (both in and out of school), men, women, PLWHA, OVC, community and religious leaders, teachers and community based volunteers.

This funding will support a workshop for all MET and AB prevention staff. The purpose of this workshop is to expand the capacity of the AB prevention staff team to increase the quality and impact of the program. During this workshop, staff will receive refresher training on curriculums, an update on the status of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in province and country, updated epidemiological information on behaviors that increase transmission and ways to communicate that information to the beneficiaries in the field, Mozambique's national strategic plan to combat HIV/AIDS, team building, sharing lessons learned and experiences, as well as organizational development training on monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and leadership. Leaders from within SP, other NGOs, CNCS, DPS, and DDS will be invited as keynote speakers.

This is a new activity for this partner and is funded through Field Support. This Community Based Counseling and Testing activity is related to: USAID_HVAB_Activity 8231, Samaritan Purse's Track One activity for $475,596 and USAID_HVAB_Activity 9391, Samaritan Purse's Field Support funded activity for $400,000. It is also linked to CDC_HVCT Activity 8572, as JHPIEGO will continue provision of technical assistance and support National AIDS Council efforts in coordinating the community-based Counseling and Testing activities.

In late 2005-early 2006, the National AIDS Council (CNCS) with technical assistance from JPHIEGO, organized a pilot project for four organizations (ADPP, Anglican Church, HAMUZA and PSI) to provide community based CT in five pilot sites in Moma District in Nampula, Milange District in Zambezia, Maciene District in Gaza, Matola and Boane Districts in Maputo province, and Dondo District in Sofala. The initial pilot project is on-going, with partner trainings in managing community based counseling and testing. It is expected that the Ministry of Health will expand community based CT to other partners and geographic areas in the second semester of 2007.

This funding will provide Samaritan's Purse resources to participate in the first post-pilot group of organizations to initiate community based counseling and testing, slated to begin in the second semester of FY07 or early FY08. Samaritan's Purse is currently an AB Track One partner in Inhambane province, implementing its Mobilizing, Equipping and Training (MET) program in Mabote, Massinga and Zavala districts. Samaritan's Purse will modify its AB Track One cooperative agreement to include provision of community based counseling and testing in Massinga district. This wrap around service will reinforce SP's current AB program and will help to further achieve PEPFAR's Five Year strategy prevention objective of "Strengthening Access to the Ministry of Health's Integrated Health Networks".

Access to VCT services is extremely limited in Massinga district. Currently, there is only one fixed VCT site managed through the district health facility and zero PEPFAR funded VCT services. With this funding, SP will establish two (2) community based counseling and testing satellite sites in Massinga district including staff, materials and equipment, transport, and other operating costs. Columbia University is currently a USG funded treatment partner in Massinga and SP will work with them to coordinate a system of referral.

Access to VCT services is extremely limited in Massinga district. Currently, there is only one fixed VCT site managed through the district health facility and zero PEPFAR funded VCT services. With this funding, SP will establish two (2) community based counseling and testing satellite sites in Massinga district including staff, materials and equipment, transport, and other operating costs. Columbia University is currently a USG funded treatment partner in Massinga and SP will work with them to coordinate a system of referral.

The main emphasis area of this new activity is community mobilization/participation. Through networks and relationships built through SP's two year old MET AB program, individuals will be easily identified for participation in community based CT. Target populations include Secondary School students, Adults, HIV/AIDS affected families, community and religious leaders, traditional birth attendants, and traditional healers. Trainings will be organized to train a total of ten community based counselors. There will be community based CT services at two sites and a targeted 3,000 people will receive HIV counseling and testing and receive their results.