INTEGRATED ACTIVITY FLAG:

This activity relates to activities implemented by HOPE worldwide South Africa in Basic Health Care and Support (#7608), OVC (#7609) and CT (#7610) and are linked to HOPE worldwide Track 1 AB (#7317) and the Track 1 OVC (#7372) program. Although the two programs complement each other, sites, staff and reach are separate and efforts are not duplicated.

SUMMARY:

HOPE worldwide South Africa (HWSA) will continue activities in abstinence and be faithful (AB) to support the expansion of a comprehensive HIV prevention program through a skills-based, gender-focused program for young boys and men and the promotion of AB messages for young people within designated communities.

The activity targets children and youth (both in- and out-of-school), adults, parents, teachers, religious and community leaders, mobile populations and NGOs. Major emphasis areas for the project are information, education and communication, community mobilization and participation, local organization capacity development and training.

BACKGROUND:

The FY 2007 funded activities are part of an ongoing HIV prevention program of HWSA, funded by PEPFAR in FY 2006. HWSA will continue its programs in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces to promote and strengthen abstinence and faithfulness prevention messages within its community outreach efforts that include communities of faith. HWSA will expand to new areas, and in particular to peri-urban and rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal in response to the geographic development of the HIV pandemic in South Africa. To date, with PEPFAR funding, HWSA has reached 360,000 individuals with A and AB messages through 32 faith-based organizations (FBOs) and 73 schools, and other community-based awareness campaigns in 26 clinics and hospitals through support groups. The HWSA prevention program is aligned to the South African Government's (SAG) prevention strategy in its promotion of abstinence, fidelity and the correct and consistent use of condoms (ABC).

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: AB Community Outreach

HWSA's AB program follows a standard Peer Educator model of training small groups of change agents, through age-appropriate activities, to impact their immediate and broader communities. The first part of the activity will entail the establishment of an abstinence-based program for youth 14 years and under who have not initiated sexual activity. The program educates children on the basic facts about HIV prevention and AIDS; addresses stigma and discrimination and how to avoid and report abuse. The second part of the activity will be targeted at the 15-24 year old age group and will establish an abstinence and fidelity-based approach (AB) focusing on HIV prevention messages and AIDS awareness, the importance of abstinence in reducing the transmission of HIV, the importance of delaying sexual activity until marriage, the development of skills for practicing abstinence, and where appropriate secondary abstinence, personal self-esteem, the reduction in the sexual partners, the importance of mutual faithfulness in reducing HIV transmission and the importance of HIV counseling and testing. The activity will reach youth through school programs, faith-based organizations, recreational activities, health care services and the workplace. With FY2007 funding HWSA will support awareness information sessions, workshops and learning materials for this prevention education intervention.

The HWSA program will also target out-of-school youth through youth clubs, community-based organizations and sports groups. With these groups, HWSA will also refer youth to condom outlets and health facilities and provide full information regarding the correct and consistent use of condoms as a way to reduce the risk of HIV infection for those who engage in risky behaviors.

ACTIVITY 2: Men as Partners (MAP)

HWSA's MAP program is part of the National Men as Partners network initiated by EngenderHealth. The MAP program creates community commitment and involvement in the reduction of violence against women and children, community interventions that will challenge norms about masculinity, early sexual activity, multiple sexual partners and transactional sex for boys and men and will establish new norms. FY 2007 funding will support school-based violence prevention programs, promote abstinence and the development of skills for practicing abstinence, skills training for peer educators to promote HIV counseling and testing. The MAP program will continue to build its public-private partnerships (with Coca Cola, South African Airways and the National Department of Arts and Culture) which provide corporate funding for workplace MAP workshops and awareness activities in the communities adjacent to these companies. The MAP program will be modified to be age-appropriate for school children and older youth reached by the school-based program. The activity will target young men aged 15-34 years and their communities. PEPFAR funding will be used to maintain current staff of three coordinators, and 8 peer educators. This activity will build on last year's achievements of 17,900 men reached and 38 new peer educators trained.

ACTIVITY 3: Parent Empowerment

HWSA will partner with the Parenting Centre and FBO networks (e.g. South African Council of Churches, African Federation of Churches and the International Churches of Christ) to empower and capacitate parents, caregivers and guardians with skills to interact with children and youth about sexuality, HIV prevention messages and discussions and create an enabling environment for AB messages. The program will include sessions on personal growth, enhance self awareness, personal values, and parenting skills, build children's self-esteem, discipline and problem-solving. The activity will also be linked to the OVC program with a focus on empowering parents and guardians in vulnerable households and working with granny-headed households. This activity will build on work done with FBO networks in FY 2006 in which 500 FBO-based peer educators trained and 70,000 people reached with abstinence and faithfulness messages.

ACTIVITY 4: Prevention with People Living with HIV

This activity is synergistic with the HWSA's Care and Support programs and CT programs and is implemented through the HWSA HIV-infected support groups. HWSA will ensure that HIV-infected individuals do not fall outside the scope of prevention efforts and that HIV-infected individuals are empowered to minimize the risk of both infecting their sexual partners and re-infecting themselves. HWSA conducts an 8-week program that includes sessions on understanding HIV infection, HIV and pregnancy, ART and nutrition. Within the program, HWSA will offer additional educational sessions on fidelity and partner reduction, disclosure and partner notification. HWSA will establish strong links with, and referral to, condom services including health clinics and will provide full and accurate information about the correct and consistent use of condoms to clients. The prevention for HIV-positives aspect will be implemented as part of the existing HWSA support groups. The program will be developed and scaled-up through consultation with existing relationships and partnerships with groups such as the National Department of Health.

These HWSA activities will contribute to the PEPFAR objectives of averting 7 million infections, and support the USG PEPFAR Five-Year Strategy for South Africa by improving AB HIV prevention behaviors among youth and adults.

SUMMARY: Hope Worldwide South Africa (HWSA) will implement activities to support the expansion of a comprehensive HIV prevention program. Background: HWSA prevention with positives program is synergistic with its care and support program. HWSA programs focus on Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. The HWSA prevention program is aligned to the South African Government's prevention strategy in its promotion of abstinence, fidelity and consistent use of condoms (ABC).

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS

ACTIVITY 1: Prevention with Positives

HWSA's Prevention with Positives (PWP) program is an integral part of HWSA's comprehensive approach to care and support CT and prevention for vulnerable and at-risk populations. The PWP program aims to provide HIV-positive individuals with supportive services, through group counseling, that minimize the risk of infecting their sexual partners and re-infecting themselves. Key interventions include educational sessions on disclosure and partner notification, partner reduction and fidelity, consistent and correct condom use, family planning and treatment adherence. In addition, the program links with CT services that offers both partners tests and couples counseling. The 75 established HWSA support groups, with 15 to 20 members each, are located in five provincial sites in Gauteng , Mthatha, Port Elizabeth , Durban and Cape Town . HWSA counselors co-facilitate group counseling and educational sessions (with trained group members) and provide one-on-one support and referral services. The program will pilot a new training for select support group members that enable them to become PWP mentors. These mentors will serve as "buddies" for newly diagnosed support group members and their families providing them with intensive one-on-one counseling support and follow-up. The PWP conducts all services in consultation with the National Department of Health (NDoH), the National Association for People Living with AIDS (NAPWA) and other PLHIV groups.

ACTIVITY 2: Condom Education & Distribution

HWSA prevention facilitators, posted at 30 partner clinics nationwide, conduct weekly educational sessions on basic HIV and AIDS information, prevention including, when appropriate, correct and consistent condom use. The program also conducts educational sessions at taxi ranks, shebeens, and shopping centers and other targeted public areas. During these sessions, counseling & testing for HIV and STIs is promoted, demonstrations are conducted and condoms and informational materials are distributed. Prevention facilitators also provide referrals to testing facilities, treatment, post-exposure prophylaxis and gender-based violence services. With plus-up funding, facilitators and PWP mentors will receive new and refresher training on general prevention, condom promotion and distribution. These HWSA activities will contribute to the PEPFAR objectives of averting 7 million HIV infections and providing care to 10 million HIV infected and affected people. These activities also support the USG PEPFAR Five-year strategy for South Africa.

Targets

Target Target Value Not Applicable Indirect number of community outreach HIV/AIDS prevention
programs that are not focused on abstinence and/or being faithful Indirect number of mass media HIV/AIDS prevention programs that
are not focused on abstinence and/or being faithful Indirect number of individuals reached with community outreach
HIV/AIDS prevention programs that are not focused on abstinence and/or being faithful Indirect estimated number of individuals reached with mass media
HIV/AIDS prevention programs that are not focused on abstinence and/or being faithful Indirect number of individuals trained to provide HIV/AIDS
prevention programs that are not focused on abstinence and/or being faithful Indirect number of targeted condom service outlets
Number of targeted condom service outlets 30  Number of individuals reached through community outreach that 50,000  promotes HIV/AIDS prevention through other behavior change beyond abstinence and/or being faithful Number of individuals trained to promote HIV/AIDS prevention 100  through other behavior change beyond abstinence and/or being faithful

Table 3.3.05:

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY FLAG: The activity relates to HOPE worldwide South Africa (HWSA) activities in OVC (#7609), Prevention (#7607) and CT (#7610). Academy For Educational Development (AED) (#7508) will assist HWSA with training on conducting nutritional assessments for HBC clients. The Hospice and Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA) (#7615) will assist HWSA to strengthen clinical care services. This partner may benefit from the Partnership for Supply Chain Management ARV Drugs activity (#7935), which will explore current pain and symptom management practices, drug availability and cost, and provide recommendations.

SUMMARY: HWSA will continue activities to provide and strengthen comprehensive care and support of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families through community-based support groups and home-based care (HBC) programs. Activities will use a family-centered approach and HWSA will receive support from HPCA to strengthen clinical care services provided to its clients. The target population is thus PLHIV and their families and the emphasis area is community mobilization and the development of network/linkages/referral systems. The major emphasis area is community mobilization with an additional focus on linkages with other sectors and initiatives, and food/nutrition support.

BACKGROUND: The activities described below are part of an ongoing Basic Care and Support program of HWSA, funded by PEPFAR in FY 2006. All activities will be implemented by HWSA and their community partners. The HWSA project is managed through an umbrella agreement with PACT, Inc.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS: HWSA currently facilitates 30 support groups for PLHIVs, most of which are integrated into the existing health care system. HWSA partners with over 30 local government clinics to provide care and support services. Through a sub-grant to the Soweto Hospice, HWSA has been able to conduct over 30,000 HBC visits. HWSA will carry out two separate activities in this program area. A family-centered approach will be implemented to ensure that both clinical and supportive needs of HIV-infected adults and children and family members, including OVC, are addressed. Care and support field staff will work in tandem with OVC staff and volunteers. Both care and support and OVC activities at site level will be centralized and managed by the site coordinator.

ACTIVITY 1: Community Outreach The first activity is to provide and strengthen comprehensive care and support of PLHIV through community support groups. HWSA has reached over 5,000 PLHIV through its 30 support groups to date. HWSA will continue to facilitate 30 support groups in disadvantaged communities covering 5 national sites located in Gauteng province, Mthatha and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province, as well as Durban and Cape Town.

PLHIV support groups operate primarily out of local health facilities. The integration into DOH facilities will help ensure government collaboration and facilitate access to appropriate clinical services for clients, including ARV services. Facility staff will be trained to provide basic clinical services including screening for symptoms and pain. In addition, HWSA will work closely with provincial government to collaborate and report on progress.

New PLHIV referred to support groups will attend HWSA's basic HIV and AIDS education course 'Living with Hope' in which clients meet with facilitators weekly over a period of 10-weeks.The course will be revised and updated to strengthen topics such as Prevention for Positives, ARVs and adherence, Family Planning and Nutrition. The course will be disseminated as a training resource to key stakeholders, allowing scale-up of community support groups. Selected PLHIV graduates of the course will be invited to assist with facilitation of support groups as well as the course.

ACTIVITY 2: Home-based care The second activity is providing HBC for PLHIV. HWSA with its sub-partner, Soweto Hospice, conducts over 30,000 home visits annually. HWSA at all its sites will provide a range of HBC services to clients, including psychosocial support, nutritional support, spiritual support, referrals, and medical support. Levels of clinical support will differ from site to site depending on the presence of qualified medical staff. HWSA will work closely with government HBC efforts for necessary referrals. Home-based carers will be trained by

SAG-approved service providers in the government HBC training program. The HBC program will continue to collaborate with a host of community partnerships in Hospices and other HBC and community support organizations. HWSA will work with partners to prioritize elements of the preventive care package including TB, cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and counseling and testing.

Ongoing psychosocial and spiritual support will be offered to all clients and their family members with a special focus on elderly female caregivers. Through wraparound programming, non-USG funded food parcels sourced from partners such as Tiger Brands and supermarket outlets will be provided to needy clients identified by staff and volunteers. Ongoing training of staff on nutrition will be conducted by partners such as AED. AED will also train HWSA staff to conduct nutritional assessments of their clients and educate caregivers and their clients on good nutritional and hygiene practices.

Income generation activities, supported by organizations such as Oxfam, will support livelihood strengthening and job creation. These activities will principally target HIV-infected women. Human capacity development at community level will be strengthened by training PLHIVs in facilitation of support groups, peer education and counseling. As a result, trained PLHIV will facilitate support groups and other services to members.

Activity 3: Strengthen comprehensive care and support of PLHIV and their families. This activity will provide and strengthen comprehensive and holistic care and support of PLHIV (as described in Activity 1) through 75 community-based support groups facilitated by HWSA in disadvantaged communities covering 5 national sites.

Activity 4: Expanding HBC Programs for PLHIV (as described in Activity 2).

Activity 5: Providing care for Caregivers. HWSA will train and educate caregivers on new developments in relation to HIV & AIDS. HWSA will facilitate workshops together with the prevention program for parenting skills. A development of a PMTCT curriculum will be undertaken to cater for the need of pregnant women. Strengthening of referrals to organizations providing debriefing sessions of caregivers is planned. This activity will be facilitated through camps and/or one on one counseling. Stipends for care givers will be provided.

Through these activities, HWSA contributes to the PEPFAR goal of providing care to 10 million HIV-affected individuals. These activities also support the PEPFAR vision in South Africa as outlined in the Five-Year Strategy by expanding local communities' capacity to deliver quality care for PLHIV in their communities. In addition HWSA will increase PLHIV access to government support systems and strengthen linkages and referral systems with other social services such as Health and Social Development.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY FLAG: This OVC activity relates to other activities implemented by HOPE worldwide South Africa (HWSA) in Basic Health Care and Support (#7608), AB (#7607), and Counseling and Testing (#7610). It is also linked to the track one OVC program (#7372) as they share models, approaches and draw lessons from each other, as well as the Track 1 ABY (#7317) program. Synergy is encouraged in all HWSA programs to ensure comprehensive approach to care and support. USAID/South Africa supported prevention efforts are linked to HWSA's Track 1 OVC (ANCHOR) (#7372) program. Although the two programs complement each other, sites, staff and reach are separate and efforts are not duplicated.

SUMMARY: HWSA will continue to strengthen and develop community OVC support groups, facilitate kids clubs, strengthen community child care forums, train partner organizations and provide small sub-grants to community-based organizations (CBOs). Primary target populations reached include children and youth, people affected by HIV and AIDS, OVC families and community members. The major emphasis area for the program is community mobilization with additional focus on linkages with other sectors and initiatives, and training.

BACKGROUND: The OVC program is one of the four HWSA focus areas funded by PEPFAR since 2004. The program's main objective is to strengthen and scale-up community-based interventions to provide comprehensive care and to improve the quality of life of OVC in areas where HWSA operates. The three activities described below began in 2004 and will be further strengthened and scaled-up with FY 2007 PEPFAR funding. HWSA has begun a new Private Public Partnership with Coca Cola which is a new initiative that is to be pioneered by Coca Cola. HWSA aims to increase care and support of OVC and their families as outlined in the South African Government (SAG) OVC National Plan of Action. HWSA is an active member of the National Action Committee for Children affected by Aids (NACCA) implemented through Department of Social Development (DoSD) in collaboration with other departments and private sector to address the OVC National Plan of Action. In FY 2006, HWSA reached almost 14,000 OVC through various activities across the 4 provinces

ACTIVITY 1: Training and Capacity Building HWSA will continue to provide training to NGOs, CBOs and FBOs in OVC Psychosocial Support, Kids Clubs, Community Child Care Forums, one-on-one counseling and support groups to partner organizations. Through collaboration with ANCHOR and the Regional Psychosocial Initiative (REPSSI), new standardized Psychosocial Support, Kids Club and Basic Counseling manuals have been designed for community workers and volunteers. HWSA continues to emphasize the importance of youth participation in all its activities, and a key component of the Kids Clubs is that the discussions are led by the children themselves.

Caregiver and family members will be trained on succession planning, stigma and discrimination, children's rights, child participation and child protection. The Children Commission, in collaboration with HWSA and local police, conduct annual campaigns on Children's Rights and Child Protection. These campaigns will be held in schools and community centers and will educate OVC on their rights and responsibilities and help them identify and address physical and sexual abuse issues.

The HWSA AB program will train Kids club leaders on leadership skills and will conduct parenting workshops for care givers. Linkages, collaboration and synergy within the HWSA programs of AB, VCT, and Care and Support will continue to be encouraged.

ACTIVITY 2: Comprehensive OVC support The OVC program will continue to provide comprehensive care and support to OVC and their families. These will include providing services such as access to education, social security grants, health care, legal aid, targeted food, nutrition and psychosocial support. Through a referral system, OVC will receive ART treatment and adherence support at the closest SAG accredited treatment site. In the Soweto area abused children will be supported and referred for special treatment to Harriet Shezi Clinic in Soweto, where they will receive psychosocial support and ART treatment. In addition, as part of the HWSA wrap around efforts, OVC will receive food from Tiger Brands, local markets, churches and schools. Various other services will be provided in partnership with the local schools,

women's groups, community and youth centers, clinics and government departments. For example, ABSA a major South African banking group, is supporting Kids Clubs with educational and life skills material. Through the kids clubs and support groups, the programs will continue to conduct life skill activities, organize leadership camps, and provide one-on-one and group counseling to children with special needs. A case management approach to monitor the provision of these services will be introduced.

ACTIVITY 3: Sub-grants NGOs such as VUKA, LAMLA, Emthonjeni and CHAIN will assist in scaling-up OVC activities in the areas where they operate. The objective is to expand programs in rural areas of Eastern and Western Cape provinces. Sub-grants will be awarded for OVC support to provide additional nutritional, psychosocial and material support. Technical assistance will be provided on organizational capacity development where necessary to improve the care and support of OVC. In addition, regular mentoring and feedback sessions will be held to review progress. The sub-grants will be used for human resource, training, community mobilization, program support and travel.

ACTIVITY 4: Private Public Partnership with Coca Cola HWSA will pioneer a Vendor Employment Model for orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa. Through a Private Public Partnership with Coca Cola, HWSA will explore a vendor economic support activity for OVC/child headed families and granny support groups. The OVC program is currently supporting the granny support groups. Using income generation activities, older caregivers use these funds to buy food, pay school fees and buy clothes for OVC. Models of economic empowerment will be explored to draw lessons for this new initiative. OVC will be trained on basic business skills, marketing and budgeting.

Activity 5: Plus up funds will be used a)To strengthen adolescent OVC program to focus on HIV Prevention activities includiong reproductive helath education. OVC face pressures to engage in risky sexual behaviour like any other adolescents, but their situation is magnified due to their increased vulnerability because of lack adequate parental guidance. Hope Worldwide SA already has prevention activities whcih would be that adolescent OVC can benefit from to enhance their knowledge, skills and capacity to prevent HIV infection. b) To integrate gender issues within the OVC program: While Care givers and Adolescent OVC (especially those in Child Headed Households) are facing serious challenges due to illnesses and bereavement, the realities of gender inequalities and social norms contributes to their vulnerability. HWSA will use already existing program to include gender messages as part of activities for OVC program to benefit Caregivers and adolescent OVC.

These Hope worldwide South Africa OVC support activities will contribute to PEPFAR's goal of providing care and support to ten million people affected by HIV and AIDS including OVC and their families.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY FLAG:

This activity relates to other activities implemented by HOPE worldwide South Africa (HWSA) in Basic Health Care and Support (#7608), AB (#7607) and OVC (#7609).

SUMMARY:

HOPE worldwide South Africa (HWSA) will use FY 2007 PEPFAR funds to increase access to quality voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services in public and private sites in the provinces of the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. HWSA will provide support to the South African Government's (SAG) VCT program in public clinics, to private organizations providing VCT, and will capacitate counselors and healthcare workers to promote and offer VCT services in accordance with national and international standards, and conduct campaigns and activities to promote VCT in communities and among men. Major emphasis areas for this activity include community mobilization and participation, development of network, linkages, referral systems and training. The target populations are adult men and women of reproductive age and nurses in the public health sector, other healthcare workers and South African-based volunteers.

BACKGROUND:

Counseling and Testing (CT) is acknowledged within the international arena as an effective strategy for improving both HIV prevention, and AIDS treatment and care. HWSA's VCT program aims to strengthen the South African Government's (SAG's) capacity to manage CT centers and to create an increased demand for VCT services. In FY 2006 HWSA, with the support of PEPFAR, has established, maintained or supported CT services in 35 sites. HWSA will continue to conduct campaigns to educate and sensitize communities to promote VCT and increase its uptake. HWSA VCT trainers will provide services to partner organizations (private doctors and community-based organizations) to capacitate counselors and to improve the quality of VCT services. A special focus of the HWSA program with FY 2007 funding will be on increasing the uptake of VCT and supporting HIV prevention efforts through increasing male involvement in testing and promoting couple and family counseling. HWSA, in conjunction with EngenderHealth, has developed a program to increase male involvement in prevention, testing, care and support, and this is known as the Men as Partners (MAP) program. HWSA's FY 2007 PEPFAR-funded CT activities will build on successes achieved by HWSA in FY 2006, which saw nearly 12,000 people receive CT services through HWSA.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

HWSA will carry out four separate activities in this Program Area.

ACTIVITY 1: Support for SAG and Private CT Services

HWSA will continue to provide support to the SAG's VCT program and to private and community-based organizations providing VCT. HWSA, working closely with SAG provincial governments, will support the public sector VCT program through training, providing human resources (counselors) and through supporting structural renovations to ensure confidentiality in clinics. In addition, HWSA will provide ongoing mentoring and technical support to ensure international and national protocols are used, and standards of service are maintained.

In the private sector, HWSA will support VCT services by training counselors, by providing human resources (counselors, nurses) and by providing ongoing mentoring and technical support to ensure international and national protocols are used, and standards of service are maintained. HWSA will also train and support private doctors to provide both VCT services and to routinely offer these CT services to clients. HWSA CT program staff will ensure that CT clients who are found to be HIV-infected are linked to existing care and treatment services and that HWSA's OVC and prevention program staff are trained to refer clients for counseling and testing at public clinics and private sector outlets.

ACTIVITY 2: Training of CT Counselors

HWSA activities over the next year will include: further training of existing and new CT counselors, with an emphasis on couple counseling; HIV prevention (including for discordant couples); training of existing and newly identified community-based organizations' partners on risk reduction and CT; and providing technical support to non-profit/private CT organizations. International and national CT protocols and best practices will be used to ensure the standardization and quality of services. HWSA trainers will undertake regular assessments of participants during and after training, and participants will participate in practical exercises such as role-playing to ensure that they are able to implement the skills learned during the training. After training, HWSA will observe counselors providing services onsite to ensure that the protocol is being used correctly and to provide counselors with support. In FY 2006, HWSA capacitated 100 CT counselors to provide improved services. FY 2007 funding will be used for developing and adapting training manuals, training of trainers, human resources, stationery and workshops.

ACTIVITY 3: Community Campaigns to Promote the Uptake of VCT

HWSA will conduct community campaigns to promote the uptake of VCT services and to reduce the stigma associated with HIV testing. Activities will be conducted by trained community volunteers in workplaces, at community meetings, and through door-to-door visits. Strategies to promote the uptake of VCT services will include providing information on VCT, awareness-raising on the benefits of HIV testing, promoting couple counseling, and marketing CT as an entry point for ARV treatment. HWSA will also use a mobile VCT truck to promote the educational campaigns and to provide CT services. HWSA will also ensure that two-way referral systems between their OVC, prevention, care and treatment support programs are strengthened to ensure that clients receive appropriate services as determined by their HIV status. HWSA will also advocate for the provision of confidential and voluntary CT in the public sector.

ACTIVITY 4: Promotion of VCT among Men

HWSA will implement a program in FY 2007 to increase the number of men using VCT services in the public and private sector. HWSA will educate and sensitize men about HIV and AIDS; train male counselors to interact with male clients and provide ongoing mentoring to counselors promoting and providing CT services to men in both the public and private sector. Counselors and health professionals will attend a two-week training workshop on providing pre- and post-test counseling to men and on running community workshops for men. In addition, HWSA will mobilize facilitators and trainers to provide ongoing support for these services. Trained facilitators will conduct workshops aimed at providing men with information on HIV and AIDS, encouraging constructive male involvement in VCT and addressing gender-based violence in communities.

HWSA's activities will increase community demand for VCT services and strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations to provide VCT through training and mentoring. These HWSA activities will contribute to the PEPFAR goal of providing care and support to 10 million HIV-affected individuals.