Goal is to develop an HIV/AIDS prevention program for the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) aimed at contributing in reducing incidence of HIV/AIDS and the prevalence of other sexually diseases amongst members of the BDF and to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on the BDF community through : 1. Support Project Concern International (PCI) to provide quality trainings to the BDF Peer Educators in integrated prevention education and integrated behavior change communication through assistance with the development of a training curriculum and training tools and manuals 2. Support through the annual Voluntary Counseling and Testing Campaign to increase uptake of HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) 3. Support to the Expansion of Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) and, 4. Procurement and educational promotion of camouflage condoms 5. Support to all Communication activities through the emphasis of an integrated prevention intervention package and messaging. Population Services International (PSI) Botswana will work with BDF in SSKB, Village Garrison, Glen Valley, Thebephatswa, Eastern Military Garrison (Selibi-Phikwe), the two military garrisons in Francistown, and the Maun base camp.PSI Botswana will work through an integrated prevention strategy (SMC, HCT , Condoms and MCP) to maximize resources and build efficiencies within its implementation activities. Approaches from PSIs TRaC research tool will be integrated into prevalence and behavioral research within BDF to provide insights into underlying determinants of behavior that will be targeted by the project and PSI Botswana will monitor trends. Input indicators will track if preconditions for programmatic activities are underway as planned, whilst output indicators will provide a measure of impact.

Support to the expansion of Safe Male Circumcision in the BDFSafe Male Circumcision (SMC) has recently been recognized as an important addition to the HIV/AIDS response, as it reduces a mans risk of getting infected by 60%. No other once-off intervention has been demonstrated to be nearly as effective as SMC. In light of this evidence, the Government of Botswana has adopted a national SMC strategy, which aims to circumcise 80% of HIV-negative men within five years (from a baseline of fewer than 20%). PSI is currently working in collaboration with Ministry of Health as its preferred partner to develop a national communications campaign on SMC.SMC is an ideal addition to the integrated HIV prevention response in the BDF for several reasons. The objective of the SMC program is twofold: a) to promote a proven HIV prevention intervention and; b) to disseminate information that is critical in ensuring that the intervention has its desired effect in particular, to ensure that men understand they need to wait for 6 weeks after being circumcised before resuming sexual activity in order for the wound to heal, and to ensure that men who have been circumcised continue to practice safe sexual behaviors.Messages on SMC will be integrated into the supportive media (including posters integrating HCT and SMC messages), billboards, as well as radio and TV. A variety of supportive IEC materials will also be produced and disseminated. SMC communication will be integrated in the HCT Sekwata campaign that will be implemented twice during this period. PSI is currently conducting a national mass media campaign on SMC for the Ministry of Health, and will align BDFs SMC campaign with the National campaign for consistency of messaging.In addition, PSI will assist the BDF with procurement of minor equipment, such as examination couches and screens, and with the recruitment of nurses and counselors on an as needed basis.

1. Support to the Sekwata Voluntary Counseling and Testing CampaignVoluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) is a particularly important part of the HIV/AIDS response within the BDF, and ensuring that soldiers know their HIV status is critical. The objective of the overall campaign is to ensure that at least 6,000 soldiers are tested annually (PSI will not be directly providing HCT services).For this reason, the BDF has held an annual campaign to promote VCT, called Sekwata since the inception of the project. During this period there will be two Sekwata campaigns. The main focus of these campaigns will be VCT; however Safe Male Circumcision will be integrated as a component of the Sekwata campaign.PSIs role in supporting the campaign is to utilize its expertise in behavior change communication to design, develop and implement a VCT campaign that is both engaging and informative. This will involve the development of mobile billboards and posters to promote and integrate HIV prevention messages, as well as takeaway items such as leaflets and flyers that will encourage participation in BDFs HIV prevention activities.2. Supportive communications activitiesThrough the peer education activities and campaigns described above, the contact that a typical soldier is likely to have with the HIV prevention messages will be periodic (during Sekwata campaigns or a visit to a medical facility) rather than frequent. For behavior change to occur, it is important to complement these activities with communications messages that the soldiers will be exposed to more regularly.The primary way to do this is to take advantage of the fact that soldiers are spending a considerable portion of their lives on BDF camps, therefore HIV prevention messages will be placed around the camps.The following approaches will be used to disseminate messages around camps:Billboards: 12 mobile billboard trolley banners will be developed and utilized during each campaign activity. Messages developed around key thematic areas will be produced and flighted three times a year. These will be to maintain interest in the campaigns as well as maintain message visibility around the 10 camps nationwide.Takeaway Items: PSI will produce takeaway materials and print materials in a variety of formats, including items such as; wrist bands, t shirts, brochures, and other easy-to-carry items that allow soldiers to absorb information in an unhurried, private setting.When a campaign is underway, all of these channels will be focused on promoting the campaign messages. The mobile billboards will be displaying HIV and AIDS prevention messages and the takeaway items will relate to VCT, SMC and condoms. At the moment, campaign messaging has been focused particularly on VCT; however, as discussions have been held to add SMC and condom campaigns to the Sekwata umbrella. PSI will assist in the development of messages for these focus areas.

1. Support to the BDF Peer Education ProgramThrough discussions with BDF and PCI, it has been agreed that PCI will organize and coordinate peer educator trainings at BDF camps across the country and PSI will contribute to these trainings. The trainings will be focused on four behavioral messages: 1) Safe Male Circumcision (SMC);2) Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT);3) Correct and Consistent Condom use; and4) Multiple Concurrent Partnerships (MCP).

IEC materials such as information leaflets, flipcharts, and cue cards will be developed in close collaboration with the BDF and PCI. These materials will serve as communication aides for the peer educators during mobilization for the uptake of SMC, VCT, and condoms throughout the life of the project. PSI will train BDF peer educators on how to use the materials.

2. Procure and Support the Sekwata Condom BrandCorrect and Consistent Condom use plays a big role in HIV/AIDS prevention. In the previous year, PSI procured approximately 3.2 million condoms specifically branded for the BDF. This year, PSI will complement the procurement of 3.2 million Sekwata branded condoms with correct and consistent condom use education, targeted at the armed forces and their community. Condom specific IEC materials such as brochures, cue cards, and posters will be distributed to soldiers and placed around condom dispensers as well as in medical base facilities. To reinforce the information and provide more education on correct and consistent condom use, PSI will conduct condom promotion activities such as road shows with audience appealing activities, such as theater and popular artists at various BDF camps.