The overall goal of this activity is to decrease new HIV infections in the military through BCC with a focus on

AB.

PSI/Rwanda and the Directorate of Military Services (DMS) work together to promote prevention among

members of the Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF). While many soldiers practice sexual abstinence and

fidelity, their living situation, mobility and age make them vulnerable to HIV. For married soldiers, the

distance from their families and spouses can make it difficult to maintain stable relationships. A KAP survey

conducted by PSI/Rwanda in 2004 (in Gitarama, Butare and Kigali-rural brigades) indicated that out of

1,171 soldiers, 60% were single and young, 90% were aged between 20 and 34, and 4.3% had abstained

from sex during their lifetime.

In FY 2007, this program reached approximately 15,000 members of the RDF and surrounding communities

with primary prevention messages. Soldiers were encouraged to abstain and be faithful while they are away

from their spouses and partners. PSI/Rwanda, in collaboration with the DMS, implemented an AB campaign

and continued to provide trainings and TA to anti-AIDS-clubs and peer educators. The peer educators and

TOT were trained in ABC prevention that addressed the links between HIV, alcohol and GBV. 142 peer

educators were trained to promote ABC messages, stressing AB or C to different sub-groups within the

RDF based on KAP research and segmentation of the target population (married or single). The peer

educators encouraged married members of the RDF who live far away from their families to practice

abstinence while on duty at the same time being faithful to their spouses. Interpersonal and mass media

communication strategy was employed in order to reach both primary and secondary (spouses and partners

of soldiers) target audiences. Prevention of alcohol abuse and the link between alcohol, sexual risk

behaviors and GBV were emphasized in the peer education trainings and IEC materials promoting AB were

provided.

In FY 2008, these activities will continue with the program reaching 17,000 members of the RDF and

surrounding communities with AB prevention messages. PSI/Rwanda will continue implementing a

community-based communications campaign among soldiers, their sexual partners, and surrounding

communities in brigades and battalions to increase safer sexual behaviors. Key prevention strategies will

include 1) capacity building of anti-AIDS clubs through trainings and formative supervision; 2) an outreach

communications campaign including peer education activities, competitions and IPC sessions promoting

AB; and, 3) promotion of TC services with a particular focus on couples testing, disclosure of sero-status

and care and support for PLHIV. Using the results of a behavioral survey planned for late 2007, DMS and

PSI/Rwanda will organize a message development workshop and update IEC materials for the FY 2008

communications campaign.

Strategic priorities for message development will include the benefits of AB, the integration of FP into

HIV/AIDS messages, male involvement for HIV/AIDS prevention and FP, reduction of GBV and prevention

of alcohol abuse.

The overall goal of this activity is to decrease new HIV infections in the military through BCCwith a focus on

the correct and consistent use of condoms.

PSI/Rwanda and the Directorate of Military Services (DMS) work together to promote prevention among

members of the Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF). While many soldiers practice sexual abstinence and

fidelity, their living situation, mobility and age make them vulnerable to HIV. For married soldiers, the

distance from their families and spouses can make it difficult to maintain stable relationships. A KAP survey

conducted by PSI/Rwanda in 2004 (in Gitarama, Butare and Kigali-rural brigades) indicated that out of

1,171 soldiers, 60% were single and young, 90% were aged between 20 and 34, and 4.3% had abstained

from sex during their lifetime. DMS distributes about 1,000,000 condoms to soldiers annually.

In FY 2007, this program is reaching approximately 15,000 members of the RDF with primary prevention

messages, including condom use and prevention of alcohol abuse and GBV. PSI/Rwanda provided TA to

the DMS and the brigades to establish and build capacity of local anti-AIDS-clubs to promote safer sexual

behaviors including balanced prevention messages and "condom preparedness". PSI/Rwanda trained 142

anti-AIDS-club members as peer educators to promote correct and consistent condom use and to address

the link between alcohol, risky sexual behaviors and GBV. By transferring skills and competencies in ABC

messaging to anti-AIDS-clubs at brigade level, PSI/Rwanda will strengthen local capacity and

decentralization of HIV service delivery and prevention within the military system.

PSI/Rwanda provided TA to the DMS, the medical brigade doctors and representatives of the anti-AIDS-

clubs to develop a series of short movies demonstrating correct condom use, discussing the stigma of

acquiring condoms (in military and non-military settings), promoting condom negotiation skills with partners,

and demonstrating how alcohol use can lead to negative consequences. The program also developed IEC

materials that promoted condom use by demonstrating and outlining reasons for using condoms with

regular and non-regular partners. During military mobile TC events (both inside and around military camps),

PSI will present educational films and then lead open discussions with the anti-AIDS-clubs on the barriers

and solutions to condom use.

In FY 2008, PSI/Rwanda will continue implementing a community-based communications campaign among

soldiers, their sexual partners, and surrounding communities in brigades and battalions to increase safer

sexual behaviors. Key prevention strategies will include 1) capacity building of anti-AIDS clubs through

trainings and formative supervision; 2) an outreach communications campaign including peer education

activities, competitions and IPC sessions promoting correct and consistent condom use; and, 3) promotion

of TC services with a particular focus on couples testing, disclosure of sero-status and care and support for

PLHIV. Using the results of a behavioral survey planned for late 2007, DMS and PSI/Rwanda will organize

a message development workshop and update IEC materials for the FY 2008 communications campaign

focusing on correct and consistent condom use. 200 trained volunteers will reach 41,960 individuals with

prevention messages that go beyond AB.

This activity is continuing from Fy 2007. No new narrative is required.