No. 35 January 2010 ISSN 1018-2152 PASAPaci! c AIDS Alert Bulletin

Contents: Policing women’s bodies in PNG ...... 2 Stigma, discrimination and regionalism key challenges Paci! c must address gender inequality to ! ght HIV ...... 3 for Paci! c AIDS work, says AIDS Alliance ...... 16 Tackling the Paci! c’s high rates of chlamydia ...... 5 Introducing Homo-Sphère – New Caledonia’s Implementing HIV continuum of care in PICTs ...... 5 ! rst gay NGO ...... 17 Integrated antenatal HIV and STI counselling ...... 7 No time to waste in implementing second Regional ‘Score’: and launch their ! rst Strategy on HIV and other STIs ...... 19 Paci! c condom social marketing programme ...... 8 ICAAP 2009 through the eyes of the Love Patrol is on again! ...... 11 Sexual Health Society ...... 20 Komuniti Tok Piksa: Voicing community stories on HIV The Safe Festival Campaign – an essential ingredient and AIDS in PNG ...... 12 of the Paci! c Youth Festival ...... 23 Stepping Stones evaluation: Re" ecting on successes and World AIDS Day – Human rights in the Paci! c ...... 26 challenges and the way ahead ...... 13 Bored? Confused? Not any more! ...... 27 Mainstream media and behaviour change: Is it HIV? A handbook for health care providers ...... 28 Two sides of the communications coin ...... 15 Gender and HIV

Policing women’s bodies in PNG

ecently, certain health-care R settings in Papua New Guinea Power di! erentials between health-care workers have taken a new policy approach to HIV testing based on an ‘opt out’ and female patients make it di" cult for women to approach, rather than the historical make choices to ‘opt out’ in the clinical encounter. ‘opt in’ approach. ! e ‘opt out’ approach is especially advocated in health-care settings such as antenatal clinics (ANCs), and is designed to increase HIV testing rates. ! e assumption is that increased opt- out testing will reduce mother-to- child transmission (MTCT) and increase the number of women on ‘! ere has been a long history of out’ program initiated in 2004 felt that antiretroviral therapy (ART). women who test HIV-positive in the they could not refuse the test o# ered antenatal setting who do not return by the health-care worker. Power Angela Kelly has a dual appointment for treatment or delivery, both in di# erentials between health-care with the PNG Institute of Medical PNG and the developing world as workers and female patients make it Research and the International a whole. While the numbers are di$ cult for women to make choices to HIV Research Group, at the School improving as health-care providers ‘opt out’ in the clinical encounter. of Public Health and Community adapt to the complex needs of women Medicine at the University of New testing positive in this context, much ‘Until we can increase the number South Wales. She is working on more still needs to be done. As some of women who return a" er their a number of projects, including have argued, great caution needs to diagnosis for safe delivery and for one funded by AusAID: ‘Women be taken when only seeing success ongoing follow-up, and improve and men’s experiences of PMTCT of the PMTCT program in terms of the social and health outcomes [prevention of MTCT] in Papua New the number of women testing and on for women and their children and Guinea: A gendered socio-cultural treatment. families who have already tested analysis of barriers and facilitators for positive with an opt-in, then it is program engagement 2009–2011’. ‘International research tells us that neither ethical nor in the interests women who test positive in an ANC of maternal and child health to shi" For Angela, this policy shi" to ‘opt are less likely to disclose their HIV direction in HIV testing to opt-out,’ out’ in the PNG context has occurred status to their partners than women argues Angela. without an evidence base of what the tested in other sites. We also know issues are for women undertaking that women with HIV experience ‘It is not in the interest of women HIV testing in ANCs and entering a higher rates of intimate-partner to advocate for scaling up e# orts continuum of HIV care. ‘We actually violence than women who do not to test pregnant women for HIV if know very little about PNG’s HIV- have HIV.’ the unintended consequences of a positive antenatal mothers and why positive result put the women at more so many are declining to accept Research in South Africa indicates risk of violence, abandonment and treatment, return for delivery or that irrespective of their test results possible death. ANC testing makes accept the care and support o# ered a" er undergoing provider-initiated HIV testing and disclosure a gender post-delivery. And we certainly do counselling and testing in the issue rather than a couple one. ! e not know the clinical and social antenatal setting, women said that lives of women and children will not impact of the change to opt-in HIV they felt pressured by the health- be genuinely advanced until men testing for pregnant women. ! is is care worker to undergo the test. In are included in all ANC settings and a large gap in our knowledge of the Botswana more than two-thirds of made to feel equally responsible for epidemic in PNG. women testing for HIV under the ‘opt HIV in their relationships. 2 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Gender and HIV

‘We must also think about the 40% of services. We need to also think about For more information, please contact pregnant women in PNG who never what role increasing community Angela Kelly, Research Fellow, attend an ANC or have a supervised awareness about HIV testing in International HIV Research Group delivery. Antenatal HIV testing does ANCs plays in women’s decision to (IHRG), School of Public Health and not and will never reach those women avoid or delay entry into health care Community Medicine, University of who do not access antenatal care when pregnant.’ New South Wales, Sydney, ph: +61 (2) 9385 1396; email: [email protected]

Paci! c must address gender inequality to ! ght HIV Tione Chinula (SPC)

s indigenous peoples around A the world contemplate how to strengthen e# orts to tackle HIV in their communities, an HIV advocate in the Paci% c believes that more emphasis should be put on addressing the gender dimension of the disease. SPC Prevention O$ cer Jovesa Saladoka says that if e# orts to curb the spread of HIV in the Paci% c are to succeed, strategies on HIV must include gender equality.

Jovesa made the comments in relation to the 2009 theme of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August): ‘Indigenous Peoples and HIV/ AIDS’. ! e day aims to strengthen international cooperation for % nding solutions to the problems faced by indigenous peoples in areas including ‘Most women who get the disease are infected by culture, education, health, human their husbands or long-term partners’ rights, the environment, and social and economic development.

! e failure to address the gender dimension in the Paci% c early on in the epidemic has contributed, to a certain extent, to the spread of the disease, Jovesa says. PASA n° 35 – January 2010 3 Gender and HIV

human rights puts them at risk of ‘Unless the underlying attitudes and inequalities contracting HIV. Entire societies are su# ering the consequences. that allow gender-based violence to occur are Unless the underlying attitudes and understood and addressed, controlling HIV inequalities that allow gender-based infection will remain a major challenge.’ violence to occur are understood and addressed, controlling HIV infection will remain a major challenge.’

Additional factors in the Paci% c that contribute to the spread of the epidemic include high rates ‘New cases being recorded in the condom may go some way towards of sexually transmitted infections Paci% c are showing a higher level of empowering women to make (STIs), which increase the likelihood risk and vulnerability for women,’ decisions about their sexual health, of contracting HIV; low condom use; he says. ‘Most women who get the public’s attitudes with regard to lack of rights for certain vulnerable the disease are infected by their acceptability of this condom, which is groups in some countries, including husbands or long-term partners. So relatively new, are yet to be seen. men who have sex with men, and an issue that particularly needs to be SPC’s Human Development Adviser sex workers; lack of active reinforced among men is responsible (Gender Equality) Treva Braun says engagement by leaders; and behaviour. Men can explore how they gender-based violence is another limited access to education, which can create a culturally friendly, level manifestation of gender inequality subsequently limits access to playing % eld where everyone a# ected that needs particular attention in information on HIV prevention or is empowered enough to be able to e# orts to combat HIV. the ability to process that information make a choice.’ by a signi% cant proportion of the ‘Inequality between women and population in the Paci% c. ! e lack of women’s enjoyment men has major adverse impacts of the right to equality manifests not only on women but on whole For more information, please contact itself in areas such as sexual health, communities,’ Treva says. ‘Among Tione Chinula, Human Development with many women not having other things it makes women Programme Advocacy and the authority to in& uence the use vulnerable to sexual violence, which Communications O! cer, SPC ph: of condoms. While the female in addition to violating their basic +687 26 01 57, email: [email protected]

4 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Counselling, Testing and Treatment

Tackling the Paci! c’s high rates of chlamydia Nicole Gooch

reatment and testing for set up its chlamydia testing and women attending the clinic. ! e other Tchlamydia and gonorrhoea treatment programme in May 2009 areas that need strengthening are the are now taking place in 11 Paci% c with technical assistance from SPC. For provision of counselling for clients Island countries and territories, with Mele Katea Paea, the national HIV/STI before testing takes place, and making funding from the Asian Development programme coordinator at the Ministry sure that clients who test positive Bank (ADB) and the Global Fund to of Health of Tonga, ‘the most positive come back for treatment. % ght AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria outcome so far has been being able to (GFATM). test STIs routinely, including opt-in Mele is advocating for a national routine HIV testing, at the Ministry of Health testing and treatment system to be ! e programmes were % rst piloted antenatal clinic’. implemented in Tonga at the Ministry of successfully in Nauru, Solomon Health antenatal clinic, as well as in other Islands and as an ‘! e mums are happy to be tested clinics and in the outer-island hospitals, outcome of the second-generation and treated,’ says Mele. ‘When they ‘to guide and coordinate the work of surveillance surveys conducted book into the clinic, they are given a all those responsible for testing and in 2004 by the World Health presentation on STIs and for most of treatment and to improve monitoring Organization (WHO) and SPC, them, it is the % rst time they have heard and reporting processes. We need a which found that chlamydia rates of chlamydia. Some of them even bring national system that can guide how in young people in the Paci% c were their husbands in later to be tested.’ the process of recording and reporting among the highest in the world. should be done, who to report to on Data from more recent surveys According to Mele, the programme the data obtained from the testing and suggests that up to 40% of pregnant at the antenatal clinic is e# ective treatment, who to contact when drugs women under the age of 25 may be but constrained by limited human are out of stock, who to contact when test infected with chlamydia in some resources compared to the number of kits are running out, and so forth.’ Paci% c Island countries.

Implementing HIV continuum of care in PICTs Dr Alan Garvez (SPC)

n October 2009, as the HIV Island countries and territories A CoC strategy in the Paci% c is ITreatment and Care Adviser (PICTs). Present at the meeting essential to ensure that all partners for SPC’s HIV & STI Section, I were representatives of WHO, the coordinate their e# orts e$ ciently met with SPC’s partners in Oceania Society for Sexual Health so that people living with HIV to discuss the implementation of and HIV Medicine (OSSHHM) have constant, long-term access to a new Paci% c continuum of care and the Paci% c Islands AIDS antiretroviral therapy (ART), and (CoC) strategy for HIV in 11 Paci% c Foundation (PIAF). can also seek support from other

PASA n° 35 – January 2010 5 Counselling, Testing and Treatment

services, be it for medical treatment, counselling, or assistance with ‘A CoC strategy in the Paci# c is essential to ensure obtaining healthy food and shelter. that all partners coordinate their e! orts e" ciently’ SPC and WHO have been working intensively on establishing CoC in the Paci% c for a number of years. ! is work has included the introduction by WHO of a team approach to a hospital-based care framework for , and the adoption of a hub- based framework in Fiji in 2005. SPC incorporated CoC in its HIV training role in relation to the national as well as palliative care and in 10 PICTs in 2009. AIDS committee or the country provision of social support coordinating mechanism; such as shelter, nutrition and However, a number of challenges f the need to identify the role of transport. have surfaced recently that the Paci% c non-governmental organisations CoC partners hope will be addressed (NGOs) and civil society ! e Paci% c CoC strategy is currently through the new strategy: organisations in relation to the being dra" ed and will be ready for f a lack of terms of reference for country’s clinical team working implementation to begin in early HIV core teams, which means on CoC; and 2010. they are not recognised by the f capacity building for NGOs. respective Ministries of Health NGOs have been actively For more information, please and the teams cannot have a stake involved in preventive contact Dr Alan Garvez, HIV in the national health budget; counselling, but this role needs Treatment and Care Adviser, HIV & f the need for each country’s to be expanded to include STI Section, SPC, ph: +687 26 20 00, CoC approach to have a clear counselling for ART adherence email: [email protected]

More about continuum of care from Family Health International

In some areas of the Asia-Paci! c region, HIV incidence continues to rise at an alarming rate − particularly among those who engage in high-risk behaviours. But most people who are living with HIV cannot access available care, treatment and support services. In addition, such services are seldom linked and coordinated in ways that optimise access and adherence to treatment.

The continuum of care is a strategy developed to organise and provide such services. Tailored to meet local needs and circumstances, CoC is de! ned as a network of linked and coordinated HIV care, treatment and support services that collaborating organisations provide.

A central challenge in CoC creation is bringing together partner organisations from di$ erent sectors to create a framework within which they can work together to coordinate programming and expand the provision of high-quality services.

Source: Edited extract from Family Health International, http://www.fhi.org/en/HIVAIDS/pub/res_CoC_toolkit.htm – retrieved from the Internet on 26 November 2009

6 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Counselling, Testing and Treatment

Integrated antenatal HIV and STI counselling Joe Cohen (PC&SS)

n 1 October 2009, Paci% c O Counselling and Social Services (PC&SS), in collaboration with the Fiji Ministry of Health (MOH), o$ cially commenced HIV and STI counselling and testing services as part of an integrated antenatal care programme for women and their partners at the Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital in Suva.

Outcomes to be achieved from the programme include more ‘traditional’ expected results, such as all women planning to give birth at the CWM Hospital being o# ered HIV and STI counselling and testing as part of routine antenatal care. As well, it is planned to introduce some novel Inauguration of the new counselling and testing facility at the CWM Hospital, ideas to promote the involvement of Suva men in antenatal care and support of their partners, and promotion of wider protection of their unborn partner. Inside the envelope is Hospital includes seven soundproof child from HIV and STIs, by information regarding HIV and cubicles, one larger room for training encouraging partner testing and STIs and how men can play a major purposes and for giving HIV and STI condom use for all sexual encounters role in protecting their partner and information to larger groups, and during their partner’s pregnancy and unborn child during pregnancy two storage rooms for information, while she is breastfeeding. and breastfeeding. ! ere is also an education and communication (IEC) invitation to be tested for HIV and materials and condom/lubricant Research suggests that many men STIs, an invitation for a session with supplies. Even the furniture has been feel excluded from hospital-based a diploma-quali% ed male counsellor custom built to take into account antenatal care. ! is, combined to discuss any issues surrounding the comfort of clients, with extra- with cultural norms, has meant low the impending fatherhood, a supply strong wide chairs being specially participation and understanding by of condoms and lubricant, and a constructed. men regarding the whole pregnancy card to be presented to receive free and a" er-birth process. condom supplies for the duration of ! e HIV counselling and testing the pregnancy and while the child is facility is sta# ed by PC&SS employees, In an attempt to rectify this being breastfed. % ve of whom have diploma-level situation and to address high levels counselling quali% cations and two of congenital syphilis and the risk Only time will tell the e# ectiveness of whom are accredited HIV test of parent-to-child transmission of of this novel approach. Extensive practitioners trained in the course HIV, all women undergoing HIV qualitative and quantitative data developed by PC&SS and approved and STI pre-test counselling are are being collected to evaluate and by SPC for use in 12 Paci% c Island o# ered a sealed envelope marked inform this area of the programme. countries. ! e facility enables PC&SS, ‘Men’s Business’ to pass on to their ! e purpose-built facility at CWM in collaboration with MOH, to o# er a PASA n° 35 – January 2010 7 Health Promotion

counselling and testing services that Inside the envelope is information regarding HIV meet the essential standards criteria and STIs and how men can play a major role in adopted in principle by the region in June 2009. ! e heightened focus protecting their partner and unborn child during on including partners should add pregnancy and breastfeeding. signi% cantly to the overall numbers of people in Fiji tested for HIV and STIs, and provide information on safer-sex practices to many thousands of people every year.

holistic package of care and support. If PC&SS now o# ers HIV and STI For more information, please contact a person is found to be HIV positive, counselling and testing services in all Jo Cohen, Paci" c Counselling and diploma-quali% ed counsellors and three major divisional hospitals in Fiji Social Services (PC&SS), Fiji, social workers are able to join a health- as well as two subdivisional facilities. ph: +679 6650 482, care team that will o# er a full range ! is means that approximately email: [email protected].# of services for the mother, child and 80% of women who give birth in signi% cant others. a year have access to HIV and STI

‘Score’: Vanuatu and Solomon Islands launch their ! rst Paci! c condom social marketing programme Kelly Robertson (SPC) with Ginette Morris in Vanuatu (STC) and Gillian Oti in Solomon Islands (SIPPA)

What is it about? Second-generation surveillance surveys conducted in 2004–2005 by SPC and WHO found high levels of STIs among young men and pregnant women in a number of Paci% c Island countries, including Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

Funded through an grant to SPC, and being run in collaboration with Marie Stopes International Paci% c (MSIP), ‘Score’ is a new social condom marketing programme. It targets vulnerable youth groups in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands who need easy access to male and female condoms and lubricant, as well as the information and skills to actually use the condoms successfully in order to prevent HIV, other STIs and unwanted pregnancies. Radio marketing for Score

8 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Health Promotion

! e target group in Vanuatu is sexually active and young unmarried women, while in Solomon Islands the target group is young men who use alcohol and non-injecting drugs.

! e condom product ‘Score’ was developed and branded for the local market a" er extensive consultations with each country’s Ministry of Health, NGOs and ‘target users’. ! e name ‘Score’ was chosen because of the popularity of football in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. IEC materials were also speci% cally developed to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health, including information on STIs, and to show people how to use and dispose of condoms properly.

Where is it happening? MSIP is SPC’s partner in Fiji, where MSIP has been running a social condom marketing programme since 2004, creating a brand called ‘TRYTiME’. MSIP has partnered with Save the Children Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) to implement the programme at country level. Initially ‘Score’ is being sold in Honiara and , before expanding to Launch of Score in Vanuatu other locations such as Gizo, Auki, Santo and Tanna. ! e condom social marketing programme was also condoms are marketed towards How? launched in December 2009 in the targeted youth with images from ‘Score’ is distributed through both Northern Paci% c (in RMI, FSM and popular local culture, are coloured formal and informal networks. In Palau), with funding through the and studded, and include a packet of Solomon Islands the commercial Paci% c Multi-Country Programs – lubricant. ! e marketed product is distributor is Panatina Chemists and Global Fund Round 7. ! e condom sold as 3 condoms + 1 packet of lube in Vanuatu it is Au Bon Marché. ! ey sold in the Northern Paci% c has in a small box with instructions in sell ‘Score’ through their networks of been branded ‘Defender’ a" er the Bislama, Pidgin and English. pharmacies and supermarkets. popularity of basketball in the region. In Solomon Islands the price for ! e informal distribution system Why? ‘Score’ is SB6.00 and in Vanuatu it is is a network of peer educators and To date only free condoms or 60 vatu. ! ere is a small margin made community-based distributors in commercial branded condoms that goes to the retailer or community- each country. ! ese distributors have been available in most Paci% c based distributor as an incentive to combine sexual and reproductive Island countries. ‘Score’ is di# erent sell the condoms. MSIP and the in- health awareness to target groups with from these two choices in that the country partners do not make a pro% t. the sale of condoms. ! ey have been PASA n° 35 – January 2010 9 Health Promotion

trained by the in-country partners and in Vanuatu in early September For more information, please contact and given their % rst box of condoms 2009. Product launches involved Kelly Robertson, Grant Coordinator, for free. Once they sell the % rst box mass media campaigns, including HIV & STI Section, SPC, ph: +687 they are able to purchase a second at radio and newspapers, to educate, 26 50 96, email: [email protected] wholesale price and then sell to their raise awareness and change attitudes customers at the recommended retail towards sexual and reproductive If you are interested in price, and retain the margin as an health issues. In Vanuatu, for becoming a distributor of incentive to keep selling. instance, the Project O$ cer went ‘Score’ condoms in Vanuatu on the local FM107 radio station or Solomon Islands, please Currently only male condoms are ‘talkback show’ and callers could contact: being distributed, but it is expected ring and ask questions about the f Ginette Morris, Vanuatu that further research will be ‘Score’ product and condom use in Project O% cer, undertaken by MSIP on the feasibility general, and sexual and reproductive ph: +678 22794 of socially marketing female health issues. f Gillian Oti, Solomon condoms. Until that happens, free Islands Project O% cer, female condoms will be distributed In both countries the product was ph: +677 22991 through the informal network also launched with a public event alongside ‘Score’. that included representatives of key stakeholders, including the Ministry When? of Health, NGOs and commercial ! e product was launched in distributors, as well as local bands Solomon Islands in late August 2009, and sponsors. 10 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Health Promotion

Love Patrol is on again! Robyn Drysdale (SPC)

he long-awaited second series T of Wan Smolbag’s popular $ e idea behind the TV programme is to Paci% c TV soap opera, Love Patrol, was launched by SPC on 14 October introduce ideas and information about HIV and 2009 at Village 6 Cinema in Fiji. ! e reproductive health in an exciting drama, so that % rst series of Love Patrol played on people will learn as they watch. TV stations across the Paci% c as well as on ’s Maori TV and ’s ABC International; these stations have already asked for the rights to series 2.

Love Patrol series 1 got took place over four months to rapturous reviews from Fiji and December 2009. It was a huge PNG TV. Ruth Benson from amount of work with hundreds EMTV wrote that people had of people involved, including phoned in expressing their the core Wan Smolbag actors. sadness that the show had come Yvette Vatu says, ‘We hope we to an end and asking if there don’t look too tired when we act, was to be a second series. because we have to start work at 6 a.m. and don’t % nish till 5 most In Fiji, Love Patrol was rated days – but we still enjoy it!’ ninth in the list of regional and local shows on air and Many of the actors and part- was watched by approximately timers are taking on new 125,000 people every week responsibilities and learning – huge numbers for a debut more about costuming and programme. Series 1 was continuity in % lm, making sure distributed to 17 Paci% c Island people are wearing the right countries and territories. clothes and what is needed to make good lighting. ! ere are a Tamara Kwarteng, who has number of new actors in series worked in HIV in the Pacific 3 who are % nding out what it for many years, first suggested the ! e idea behind the TV programme is like to turn up on set and have to idea of making a TV programme on is to introduce ideas and information act surrounded by microphones and HIV to Wan Smolbag back in 2005, about HIV and reproductive health cameras or having to turn on the and with her help funding was in an exciting drama, so that people tears at the cry of ‘Action!’ found to make will learn as they watch. Love Patrol the first series. The second series 2 has many new elements, such as Series 3 will be released in the middle has been funded by AusAID drug runners and new trainees in the of 2010. through the Pacific Regional HIV/ police station, as well as one of the AIDS Project (PRHP) and SPC, characters coming out publicly to say with assistance from the Global they are HIV positive. It is in 10 parts Fund to fight Malaria, TB and HIV. and will eventually go on TV all over For more information, please contact The third series (currently being the Paci% c, starting on Fiji One on Jocelyn Deo, Project Administrator, filmed) is funded by the Asian 1 December 2009, World AIDS Day. HIV & STI Section, SPC, ph: +679 Development Bank. Meanwhile, the % lming of series 3 9205 319, email: [email protected] PASA n° 35 – January 2010 11 Health Promotion

Komuniti Tok Piksa: Voicing community stories on HIV and AIDS Katherine Britton (UTS)

% lms presenting intimate community portraits. Says camera trainer Bao Waiko, ‘[Yumi Piksa] is the % rst [project] of its kind that [has been] done in Papua New Guinea. I think we can really be the benchmark and spearhead this movement of communicating messages about what the communities are going through and getting our message heard outside the province and outside the country.’

! e success of the Yumi Piksa project provided the platform on which Verena has been able to build the Komuniti Tok Piksa framework, Yumi Piksa crew ! lming in PNG which hinges on a close partnership with the University of Goroka. ‘When e need to make better use of people living in Highland PNG we saw the community reactions ‘Wof the creativity that exists confronted by HIV and AIDS. At to Yumi Piksa, we realised the huge in the Paci% c,’ says Verena ! omas. its heart is giving voice to local potential of these visual methods to Verena is the coordinator of Komuniti cultural and community knowledge reach people in a way that gives them Tok Piksa, a new % lmmaking using video. new opportunities to articulate their project from the Centre for Health ideas and engage with each other in Communication, University of Filmmaking workshops will be run creative ways,’ she explains. Technology Sydney, which is funded with students at the University of by the National AIDS Council of Goroka during their % rst semester Komuniti Tok Piksa is not alone Papua New Guinea and aimed at in 2010, culminating in groups in recognising the potential of the education and prevention of HIV and travelling into communities to record arts to tackle the problem of HIV AIDS in PNG. local stories about HIV and AIDS. and AIDS in the Paci% c. Projects ! e % lms will be screened % rst in the such as the TV show Love Patrol by ‘It’s about fostering a dialogue in the communities themselves and then in Vanuatu’s Wan Smolbag ! eatre communities themselves that they wider PNG and internationally, both have already met with much success. relate to, that they create within that to promote awareness and educate What sets Komuniti Tok Piksa apart community, and o# ering a space for about HIV and AIDS, and to build is its focus not only on HIV and their own re& ections by using visual % lmmaking and visual research AIDS education, but also on building technologies,’ says Verena. capacity in PNG. capacity in the university and wider community to continue to work Komuniti Tok Piksa roots its ! e participatory model of Komuniti with visual methods and sustain the message % rmly in local community Tok Piksa sprang from a 2009 project a" er its funding conclusion. and capacity-building alongside six-week pilot project called Yumi education. It seeks to promote better Piksa. ! is was also the brainchild ‘We hope the skills the participants understanding of the behavioural of Verena ! omas, who assisted gain during Komuniti Tok Piksa practices, perceptions and needs students in producing three short will equip them with new tools to 12 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Health Promotion

share experiences and to promote In the case of HIV and AIDS, the acceptance of people living with HIV At its heart is giving need to tell these stories and share and AIDS,’ says Verena. voice to local cultural them with others is paramount. Work on Komuniti Tok Piksa will continue Arthur Hane-Nou, a participant of the and community throughout 2010. Yumi Piksa project, says, ‘I’ve learnt knowledge using from the Yumi Piksa workshop that to video. be a % lmmaker is not easy, and that you For more information, please need to pay attention to the community contact Verena $ omas, Project to see that even though in that Coordinator, Komuniti Tok Piksa, community they might not tell you what Centre for Health Communication, they would like to say, the way they are, University of Technology (UTS), the way they live tells a di# erent story Sydney, email: verena.thomas@uts. and that story needs to be told.’ edu.au

Stepping Stones evaluation: Re" ecting on successes and challenges and the way ahead Emily Miller (FSPI)

s a PASA reader, you are A probably already familiar with ‘For communities to the Stepping Stones (SS) programme bene# t and demonstrate – a community mobilisation package positive change, it that engages communities in active discussions around sexual and requires long-term reproductive health, gender relations, commitment and relationship skills and alcohol use. appropriate allocation PRHP and SPC % rst piloted Stepping of resources by countries, Stones in the region in 2006. Since partners, facilitators the beginning of 2009, regional and communities.’ support and technical assistance for SS has been provided by the Foundation of the Peoples of the A unique aspect of SS is that it South Paci% c International (FSPI) requires structured facilitation of and SPC. learning modules over a period to date, FSPI, with the support of SPC, of 8–16 weeks, with both younger SS is now being implemented in Fiji, recently undertook a process evaluation and older male and female Vanuatu, Kiribati and Solomon Islands, of the programme in Solomon Islands, community members. While this and Tonga, and Cook Islands Vanuatu and Kiribati in order to take design acknowledges the time and have included the programme in their stock and make recommendations complexities of behaviour change, 2010 HIV prevention workplans. While on its sustainability and strategic it is also one of the main challenges there have been a number of successes direction. associated with the programme. PASA n° 35 – January 2010 13 Health Promotion

For communities to bene% t and f ! e evaluation highlighted relation to national facilitators’ demonstrate positive change, it issues of % nancial sustainability continued capacity development requires long-term commitment and for the project. Currently, in- and cross-fertilisation of the SS appropriate allocation of resources by country support is provided implementation experience. In countries, partners, facilitators and by FSPI through a regional addition, FSPI, SPC and the Fiji communities. grant that is due to come Ministry of Health are in the to an end in June 2010. In process of planning the next ! e evaluation attempts to document addition, SPC and FSPI were round of facilitator training in and provide recommendations for successful in obtaining a Fiji, which is mapped out for countries and organisations wishing regional support grant from early 2010. ! is will provide to take part in the programme in the SPC Paci% c Islands HIV & the opportunity to identify and the future. In brief, these include the STI Response Fund, which will train SS facilitators who will be following. cover technical assistance to available to travel regionally to in-country facilitator training, conduct national-level training. f Before countries or cross-cultural exchanges of organisations begin current SS facilitators, manual f Finally, in 2010 FSPI and SPC implementation of SS, they and resource development, a are committed to building need to consider and answer quarterly SS newsletter and on and improving capacity questions such as: Does the moderation of an SS e-forum. in relation to facilitation of organisation have the required Funds for the delivery of all discussions around gender human resources? Are there future in-country facilitator sensitisation and domestic su! cient funding capabilities training and support costs will violence prevention. ! rough a to implement and support the now become the responsibility recently funded grant proposal programme? What capacity and of each country. ! e Response engaging men and boys, FSPI funding support is needed? It Fund o# ers one option for will work towards identifying was found that in countries like continued funding, and country and training up a cadre of male Solomon Islands, where there partners will be required to plan advocates who will work with were a number of organisations and apply for future grants to community SS facilitators to (% ve in total) working together support country-level activities. improve the gender sensitivity to implement SS, there was an of programme implementation. increased chance of success. f In 2010 FSPI and SPC will be A multi-sectoral approach, with working towards increasing While much work remains to agencies pooling resources, the pool of regional technical be done, the recent evaluation skills and expertise, is seen assistance available for the and re& ection on successes and as particularly bene% cial project. ! e programme is also challenges did highlight just how for the future success of the currently at the stage of being far SS has come over the last two programme. Appropriate able to provide cross-country and a half years. Plans for SPC and mapping of organisational sharing, with more experienced FSPI in 2010 include continuing commitments in relation to national facilitators travelling regional support and cross-country % nance, time and human to partner countries to assist sharing, with the aim of improving resources, along with the in facilitator training. In the the community and national HIV possibility of a country advisory past, this has involved national prevention response to all SS committee, is recommended facilitators from Solomon countries, one step at a time. for all future SS countries. ! is Islands travelling to Vanuatu, shared vision and commitment, and as this article goes to print, For more information about as seen in Solomon Islands, was a national facilitator from Stepping Stones please contact: noted as a de% nite success in- Solomon Islands and SPC sta# Emily Miller, Health Promotion country and was seen as a key are carrying out facilitator Adviser, FSPI, email: emily.miller@ area for improvement for future training in Chuuk, Federated fspi.org.# , or Sala Tupou-Tamani, implementation. States of Micronesia. ! is is Response Fund Project O! cer, SPC, seen as a de% nite positive in email: [email protected] 14 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Media

Mainstream media and behaviour change: Two sides of the communications coin

alking media standards, gender T . . . and female condoms. As July nudged into August 2009, members of the newly formed Paci% c WAVE Media Network were making waves for media change in Nadi. Women in news and other media industries, including student members from the University of the South Paci% c (USP), were supported by SPC, the Asia- Paci% c Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) and UNESCO to attend the meeting, where they presented updates on research into Participants at the media training, including Lisa Williams-Lahari (back row, women and the media, as well as second from right) their vision for the future and the network’s workplan. ‘I don’t think you can weigh up media coverage ! anks to a grant from PIAF, four of the WAVE team members were against behaviour change − they are two very able to stay on post-AIBD for the di! erent communications strategies and are both HIV/AIDS Reporting Workshop on badly needed.’ 24−25 July. ! ey were exposed to regional and global best practices in HIV and AIDS as a development issue; received AIBD materials, including DVDs and a UNAIDS manual developed for broadcasters, to deepen their understanding and their own applied knowledge of HIV-related issues; and got to rub shoulders with a broad range of violence against women are the core e# ectiveness and impact of the media workers from Asia and the themes until 2015. media did not separate mainstream Paci% c region. Standout presenters media news coverage from public were Robyn Drysdale of SPC, ‘I loved how we % nally got our health advertising and messaging representatives from PNG’s Business journalists to pass around a female within the same publication or Alliance Against HIV/AIDS condom, unwrapped, by hand, and outlet. I don’t think you can weigh (BAHA), and AIBD trainers KP learn about the passion of BAHA, up media coverage against behaviour Madhu and Moneeza Hashmi. which can be replicated in other change − they are two very di# erent countries,’ says WAVE HIV/AIDS communications strategies and are While the focus of WAVE is women lead campaigner Lisa Williams- both badly needed.’ in the media, it also includes thematic Lahari. gender advocacy in three areas built on relevant and timely issues. HIV ‘But one area which concerned For more information on WAVE, and AIDS, climate change, and me was that discussions on the email: info@paci" cwave.org PASA n° 35 – January 2010 15 NGO News

Stigma, discrimination and regionalism key challenges for Paci! c AIDS work, says AIDS Alliance

agencies alike to step up support for a long-term, integrated approach to assistance for the UNGASS national reports. ! is will mean sorting out the long-overdue and under- resourced issue of gender-aggregated data collection via national statistics o$ ces to feed into all planning and reporting processes involved in the Paci% c response.

National reports and national budgeting for HIV and AIDS AIDS Alliance Members aside, the Alliance heard powerful testimonies from members during discussions around PIAF’s latest ‘Your greatest strength is in standing as one, evidence-based research on HIV- and reaching out to many to build bridges of positive women. ! e Alliance understanding and collaboration at all levels.’ agreed on the need for more awareness of gender inequality as the challenge governing women’s risk and vulnerability, as well as the need to increase engagement with women and HIV as a special area of attention. ctivists from all corners of the stigma and discrimination were on A Paci% c came out of the Fiji- the agenda for more than 20 regional- Treatment, care and support will hosted third forum of the Paci% c level and national-level organisations always be a key element of Alliance Alliance on HIV and AIDS in at the forum. ! e guest of honour, meetings, and this forum was no October 2009 abuzz with new sharing Bougainville parliamentarian di# erent. It con% rmed a strong and debate. ! e Alliance, which Francesca Semoso, told delegates need to ensure that a wide range of takes its founding creed from the during an informal opening event: lifelong treatment, care and support Paci% c response, is a regional group ‘Your greatest strength is in standing services are in place for people living of NGOs whose core or relevant as one, and reaching out to many to with HIV. ! e Alliance applauded programmes focus on HIV. During build bridges of understanding and the formation of an innovative new the latest forum, it welcomed new collaboration at all levels.’ ! is event ‘Continuum of Care’ partnership members into the fold while eyeing also featured a dance performance aimed at supporting access to future challenges facing HIV work in from the Oceania Centre of the comprehensive treatment, care and the region. University of the South Paci% c. support options for all Paci% c people living with HIV (PLWH). Impact, engagement, advocacy, and ! e forum looked at maximising the human rights of all Paci% c people civil-society input to UNGASS More good news was to be found to enjoy healthy lives free from 2010, encouraging governments and on the human rights/legal literacy 16 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 NGO News

front, with news of the forthcoming mental empowerment of Paci% c funds. However, the sudden rise in Paci% c Human Rights Lawyers people when they made connections dollar amounts from the Global Fund Network, which is aiming to help between global human rights, Round 7 and the Paci% c Islands HIV PLWH access legal professionals workplace commitments and their & STI Response Fund has added to the willing to overcome their own own lives. In that respect, the strain upon in-country organisations personal bias and professionally Alliance is concerned that national at all levels. Members spoke of represent legal challenges being uptake is lagging in terms of global the evolving shi" in focus from brought by PLWH who are forced good-practice workplace policies understanding the issues surrounding out of their workplaces. As with provided by bodies such as the AIDS advocacy to being able to design the session on women and HIV, International Labour Organization cost-e# ective methods for managing personal testimonies revealed the (ILO) Paci% c O$ ce in Suva. On all % nancial resources. mental and emotional stress placed the other hand, Fiji and Papua New on individuals whose vulnerability Guinea were commended for their Members also attended a range was worsened by the treatment they legislative e# orts mandating positive of evening events, including the received at their workplace. workplace policies on HIV and AIDS. Village 6 SPC-hosted launch of Love Patrol series 2, and an informal Positive workplaces and building Alliance members then took a look feedback session on the PIAF radio on the right to work in workplace inwards, with more training on drama series A Walk with Mele and policies and education have become strengthening governance systems its adaptation into other Paci% c the mantra for PIAF’s new legal and strategic planning. Over time, the languages and contexts. rights adviser, Laitia Tamata, who governance systems of many Alliance led a mini-workshop on these issues. members have evolved in response For more information on WAVE, Alliance members experienced the to work programmes and available email: info@paci" cwave.org

Introducing Homo-Sphère – New Caledonia’s ! rst gay NGO Julie Dirheimer (Homo-Sphère)

omo-Sphère is a thriving arrangement fully applicable to all relevant topics. Also, six annual H NGO set up in New Caledonia men and women in New Caledonia. social events enable members and in 1998 to pursue a number of ! is has now been achieved and the sympathisers, whatever their sexual objectives. implementation of the PACS system orientation, to join in and express in the territory since June 2009 is a their di# erences in an atmosphere of 1. To facilitate the recognition major victory for the association, its mutual tolerance. of the homosexual identity members and the gay community. in New Caledonian society 2. To take part in STI and HIV and to establish support and Monthly meetings and debates/ prevention work information networks for discussions on topics relating to ‘PMT5’ (New Caledonia’s 2008−2013 homosexuals and their families homosexuality are regularly staged; Multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS and STI and friends they give a wide range of di# erent Prevention Plan) clearly identi% ed Homo-Sphère has played an active groups opportunities to exchange Homo-Sphère as a special operational part over the past 10 years in making ideas, take part in discussion and partner, capable of implementing the ‘PACS’ (civil partnership) o# er their personal thoughts on sexual risk prevention projects for PASA n° 35 – January 2010 17 NGO News

of the homosexual and bisexual communities. According to the INSERM 2008 report (INSERM is France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research), homosexual orientation can sometimes be di$ cult to live with in New Caledonia and may be a source of unease, depression and even suicide. Young men who have a homosexual tendency are six times more likely to attempt suicide than others. In addition, research has clearly demonstrated that victims of homophobia are more likely to engage in risky behaviour. ! is is because non-communication with people in their social and family environment can lead to a lack of information and HIV and other STIs. Various projects therefore a failure to use condoms vector of tolerance to show the value have been carried out or are currently and to seek testing. Homophobia is a of di# erences. In addition, a library under way, supported by New risk factor and e# orts to counter and and a telephone hotline are being Caledonia’s Department of Health reduce discrimination are therefore set up at the association’s premises and the Paci% c Islands HIV & STI absolutely necessary. in order to do away with taboos, Response Fund. make information on homosexuality Essential action includes % ghting available to the public, and answer Awareness materials and condoms social and family exclusion of questions from young people in are permanently available in homosexuals. Equal rights are search of their own identity. all sex shops and nightspots in another fundamental requirement, Anti-homophobia activities in junior the city. A prevention banner as is positive recognition of people and senior secondary schools and has also been placed online on who protect themselves whatever universities are planned for the Internet social networking sites. their socio-sexual orientation, and forthcoming academic year. ! is As part of World AIDS Day 2009, countering the idea that homosexuals work is part of the priorities set by a prevention campaign using the will inevitably end up becoming HIV the Ministry of National Education image of Christian Karembeu, an positive, which can be devastating for the 2009 new school year. internationally known local football individually and especially to young Homo-Sphère is planning to issue star, was launched by Homo-Sphère people. Lastly, it is important to a brochure for the parents of young in conjunction with institutional and address the topic of homosexuality as homosexuals, to help them accept civil society partners. part of emotional life as a whole. Love their child’s sexual orientation. ! e stories are not limited to heterosexuals association also plans to launch an 3. To combat homophobia and neither are stability and annual public awareness campaign As part of PMT5, the association’s faithfulness in partner relationships. against homophobia. second main activity is % ghting homophobia in the community Among its projects, Homo-Sphère For more information, please in New Caledonia and promoting stages a mobile exhibition each year contact Julie Dirheimer, Director, psychological wellbeing and a healthy on the International Day Against Homo-Sphère, New Caledonia, and ful% lled sexuality for members Homophobia, using art as a true email: [email protected]

18 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Regional Strategy News

No time to waste in implementing second Regional Strategy on HIV and other STIs Nicole Gooch

ey partners in the K implementation of the Paci% c Regional Strategy on HIV and other STIs ended their annual two-day planning meeting in November with a call to use evidence from the surveillance data collected over the last % ve years and % ndings of recent evaluations as a basis for future action.

‘We’ve come a long way since 2004,’ said Dr Dennie Iniakwala, head of the HIV & STI Section at SPC. ‘Now, thanks to the information gathered through ongoing collection of epidemiological data and regular monitoring and evaluation of our programmes, we’re in a far better position to know what works and Participants at the regional meeting which areas need more attention.’ ‘In some Paci# c countries, the rate of chlamydia ! e Paci% c Regional Strategy on HIV and other STIs was endorsed in pregnant women is among the highest in in 2007 by Paci% c Islands Forum the world.’ leaders. Implementation of the % ve-year strategy began in 2009, following on from the 2004–2008 Regional Strategy on HIV/AIDS. ! e strategy aims to reduce the number of new HIV and other STI infections, to improve care and treatment for in pregnant women is among the now been established in 11 countries people living with HIV, and to % ght highest in the world.’ in the Paci% c, based on the results stigmatisation, discrimination and of data from the second-generation human rights abuses. Chlamydia can potentially cause eye surveillance surveys conducted by infections and pneumonia in newborns SPC and WHO since 2004. More ‘! e new regional strategy has many and, if untreated, can lead to infertility epidemiological studies are currently similarities to the % rst strategy, but in women. Chlamydia infection under way to ensure that any new is heavily in& uenced by evidence of facilitates the spread of HIV, and its prevention and testing programmes a trend towards increasing levels of high incidence indicates that condoms are appropriately targeted and as other STIs, in particular chlamydia are not being used in multiple-partner e# ective as possible. and gonorrhoea,’ said Dr Iniakwala. or high-risk situations. ‘! e prevalence of these infections ! e meeting was convened by SPC is a major concern. In some Paci% c Chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing and UNAIDS, which coordinates countries, the rate of chlamydia and treatment programmes have the implementation of the regional PASA n° 35 – January 2010 19 Events

strategy. ! e implementation plan Response Fund, which is supported by how we carry out our core business in includes participation by all of SPC’s AusAID, NZAID and other donors, the region to ensure an impact in the 22 Paci% c Island member countries and % nancing mechanisms including countries that we are committed to,’ and territories, development partners the Asian Development Bank and said Stuart Watson, UNAIDS Paci% c such as media and faith-based the Global Fund to % ght AIDS, Programme coordinator. organisations, people living with HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria. civil society organisations, donors, For more information, please contact UN agencies, associations of heath- ‘! is meeting is an opportunity to add Dr Dennie Iniakwala, Section Head, care workers, and others. It is funded value to what we are proposing to do HIV & STI Section, SPC, email: through the Paci% c Islands HIV & STI in the next % ve years and to improve [email protected]

ICAAP 2009 through the eyes of the Papua New Guinea Sexual Health Society Dunstan Dirua (PNGSHS)

he 9th International Congress Sanap Wantaim Australia–PNG HIV Various forums were held at the same T on AIDS in Asia and the Paci% c Support Program (AusAID) in PNG. time of the day in di# erent locations. (ICAAP IX) was held at the Nusa ‘Empowering People, Strengthening ! ere were plenaries, symposiums, Dua Resort at the Bali International Networks’ was the theme of ICAAP oral abstract sessions and skills- Convention Centre from 10 to IX. Many excellent plenaries and building workshops from which to 13 August 2009. Pre-conference specialist sessions were held based choose, all of high and exceptional satellite community meetings around the theme. Identi% cation standard. ! e whole gamut of occurred from 7 to 9 August. ! e of the main problems faced by the di# erent topics pertaining to the HIV attendance of members of the Papua various sections of the community pandemic in our region was there to New Guinea Sexual Health Society – including treatment access and be discussed, to inform, to warn, to (PNGSHS) at the conference was human rights, PLHIV leadership and alert, to report and to be questioned. made possible through sponsorship resource mobilisation – and many from the Australasian Society for other issues were frequently brought We were impressed with the passion HIV Medicine (ASHM) and the to discussions. and eagerness of many of the younger 20 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Events

delegates: it seemed to us that there governments, regional bodies and was a groundswell of impatience at activists, be captured and channelled the lack of progress and of rising into areas that will see results for anger among them. ! e many who PLHIV. A growth in the e$ cacy and are standing their ground and success of community-based projects demanding their rights include young will go a long way towards achieving women, injecting drug user (IDU) an assault on the e# ects of HIV. organisations, sex workers, and men who have sex with men (MSM). ! e On the whole the conference was pandemic has been referred to as ful% lling and bene% cial for all of us ‘genocide by omission’. who attended. It gave us a chance to learn the di# erent strategies and We think that ICAAP IX will have approaches being taken to % ght been a success if the energy expressed HIV and to share them with our can, in concert with donors, neighbours in the region.

PNG Sexual Health Society

PNGSHS is a professional society of medical practitioners, health professionals and others involved in HIV/AIDS, STI and other sexual health issues. PNGSHS works collaboratively and in partnership to prevent HIV and other STIs, and to preserve and protect the health and choices of those infected and a$ ected. It aims to function as a cohesive and inclusive group of professionals advancing its vision in a skilled, informed, compassionate and appropriate way.

PNGSHS is a foundation member of the Regional Professional Societies Network, which is made up of HIV and sexual health professional societies in Asia and the Paci! c region. Other foundation members of the network are: f Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM) (Australia and New Zealand) f Oceania Society for Sexual Health and HIV Medicine (OSSHHM) (Paci! c Island countries and territories) f Indonesian Medical Association HIV Secretariat (Indonesia) f Timor-Leste Medical Association HIV Working Group (Timor-Leste).

For further information on PNGSHS, email: [email protected] or [email protected]

PASA n° 35 – January 2010 21 Events

# e Paci! c at ICAAP 2009 in photos

22 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Events

# e Safe Festival Campaign – an essential ingredient of the Paci! c Youth Festival he Paci% c Youth Festival took T place in August 2009 in Suva, Fiji. For the second consecutive time, SPC and key partners organised a ‘Safe Festival Campaign’ at the site of the youth festival. Jovesa Saladoka, HIV & STI Prevention O$ cer for the HIV & STI Section at SPC, coordinated the campaign. But who exactly did what?

Behaviour Change Communication team (BCC team) In partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Paci% c Youth Council (PYC) and the Fiji National Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS, a BCC ! e BCC team also produced USP journalism students team comprising selected youth communication materials and With assistance from the USP School from the three Paci% c subregions products, such as TV and radio spots, of Journalism, a group of % nal-year (Melanesia, Micronesia and posters and drop-down banners. USP journalism students from Fiji Polynesia), including New Caledonia, and Solomon Islands were mobilised was trained by the HIV & STI Section Peer educators and trained in HIV media reporting prevention team in how to develop a ! e peer education component of by the HIV & STI Section of SPC communication project speci% cally the festival was coordinated and and its regional partners. ! e main for the festival. ! e Safe Festival BCC supervised by the Fiji Ministry of aim of the training was to develop a team was responsible for % nalising Health, the Adventist Development mainstream media plan that would the campaign theme and messages, and Relief Agency (ADRA), the Fiji complement the BCC marketing and as well as communication methods Red Cross Society (FRCS) and the other activities. During the festival, for dissemination of information, Reproductive and Family Health journalism students produced a daily services and products relating to Association of Fiji (RHAF), with newsletter and a blog on HIV-related condom use and HIV testing. technical assistance from SPC. events that took place at the time of Nineteen peer educators from various the festival. Both the blog and the Approximately 400 Safe Festival organisations in Fiji were recruited newsletter were called Tok Sex. bags were prepared for delegates to be part of the Safe Festival Peer of the festival. Each bag contained Education Outreach. In pairs, they Voluntary confidential counselling condom wallets (with male and conducted outreach on a one-to- and testing (VCCT) centre female condoms), a rain poncho, one basis at various sites around A VCCT centre was set up by the a T-shirt, a water bottle and a the USP campus, which was the Fiji Ministry of Health to provide wristband. While the bags seemed main venue for the festival. ! is counselling and testing for HIV to be the most popular Safe Festival involved disseminating HIV and STI and other STIs to youth delegates item, other individual products, such information and condoms, as well as attending the festival. Approximately as water bottles and wristbands, providing referrals, mentorship and 17% of the young people targeted were also in demand. support. during the peer education outreach

PASA n° 35 – January 2010 23 Events

were referred to the VCCT centre For more information, please and another 75% stated that they contact Jovesa Saladoka, Prevention would have an HIV test within the O! cer, HIV & STI Section, SPC, six months following the Paci% c phone: +687 26 20 00, Youth Festival. email: [email protected]

Safe Festival Campaign launched by rugby star

Famous rugby player Ratu Nasiganiyavi launched the Safe Festival Campaign. In a thank-you letter to the Paci! c Youth Festival organisers, Ratu recounted how ‘from the moment I entered Holiday Inn to launch the HIV campaign, to distributing condoms with peer educators at USP campus, I realised that this is it. HIV is a tsunami gaining momentum. Without our combined e$ orts, it will hit the islands. Like in Australia, the risk factors for HIV are so real. Getting drunk and forgetting to use a condom has become a norm for youths − this we have to change.’

Ratu said that his experiences at the Paci! c Youth Festival had led to an ‘unwavering commitment to be part of this youth movement . . . Personally, for me, it’s back to the drawing board and thinking through how best I can advocate for sexual health and other youth issues in the region.’

24 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Events

Safe Festival Campaign in numbers f Production of 9 di$ erent prevention and behaviour change materials and products, including condom dispensers, radio/TV spots, a daily newsletter and a blog, to promote the campaign’s key messages of condom use and HIV tests f 98% approval of the Safe Festival Campaign by youth delegates who participated in the evaluation f 1 message that focused speci! cally on gender and HIV f Daily peer education outreach Ratu Nasiganiyavi (centre) at launch of the Safe Festival by 19 trained young people to disseminate information and condoms as well as to provide The Safe Festival Campaign was supported by: referrals on related services 1. Asian Development Bank f Production of 2 condom 2. Paci! c Islands HIV & STI Response Fund dispenser models to cater for 3. Solomon Islands National AIDS Committee male and female condoms 4. Fiji National Advisory Committee on AIDS f Distribution of 4556 male 5. University of the South Paci! c condoms, 373 female 6. Paci! c Youth Council condoms and 2790 lubes by 7. United Nations Population Fund peer educators and condom 8. Secretariat of the Paci! c Community dispensers f Distribution of 300 Safe Festival bags to country delegates f 8 countries had pre-departure HIV prevention sessions f 17% of young people accessed the VCCT centre f More than 75% of young delegates committed to having an HIV test and counselling in the next six months f More than 80% of young people approved the use of condom dispensers f More than 70% of young people learnt at least two HIV prevention methods

PASA n° 35 – January 2010 25 Events

World AIDS Day: Human rights in the Paci! c Jovesa Saladoka (SPC)

niversal Access and Human ‘URights’ was the international ‘Even in hospital, theme for World AIDS Day 2009. ! e I experienced how theme strikes at the heart of what is perhaps the single largest challenge people living with faced by people living with HIV and HIV are constantly AIDS in our communities today. discriminated ! is challenge is demonstrated in the stories from many Paci% c Island against and countries and territories, including stigmatised. To that of Pita (not his real name), a this day, such Fijian in his thirties who tested positive for HIV three years ago. discrimination stops me from Pita’s story is similar to that of revealing my many others: ‘Life hasn’t been rosy. Even in hospital, I experienced positive status to how people living with HIV are anyone.’ constantly discriminated against and stigmatised. To this day, such encounter is a member of a sexual to avoid the damaging impacts of discrimination stops me from minority, a sex worker or a person gender inequality, gender-based revealing my positive status to living with HIV should make no violence, discrimination on the anyone.’ di# erence. Every person has equal basis of sexual orientation, and rights and should be embraced with marginalisation of sex workers ! e World AIDS Day theme focused the same level of respect.’ and people living with HIV; and on issues close to Pita’s heart. ‘To me, being HIV positive doesn’t mean Respect for human rights is central f the policies and legislation others should point the % nger. As to an e# ective response to HIV in needed to ensure these rights are humans we still have equal rights the Paci% c. ! e region must be able put in place and implemented. to life,’ he said. ‘! e World AIDS to demonstrate that the rights of all Day campaign is a call to those in individuals are protected, and this Globally, 33 million people were power throughout the Paci% c to work means that: estimated to be living with HIV in together to revise laws, activities and 2007. Of these, 2.7 million people cultural practices that discriminate f people living with HIV are able were newly infected. Sub-Saharan against people living with HIV and to access appropriate services and Africa remained the most seriously those living on the edge.’ support; a# ected region, accounting for 67% of all people living with HIV in 2007. Speaking in support of the campaign, f everyone in society is equipped Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director-General with the information, services Pita hoped that people would take of SPC, said, ‘! e everyday increase and products they need to notice of the 2009 World AIDS Day in discrimination against our fellow protect themselves; campaign and talk about it, whether human beings just because they at home, in the school playground seem di# erent is not the Paci% c way. f children and adults are educated or classroom, in church or at village Whether a colleague or someone we and taught to embrace di# erences chiefs’ meetings. 26 PASA n° 35 – January 2010 Monitoring & Evaluation

Bored? Confused? Not any more! Kamma Blair (SPC)

those activities at the end of the year, Submitting the reports also gives us a you may discover that you spent a lot chance to advocate for resources from or only a little. You may also discover donors and from our leaders. that you need resources to implement Countries all over the world have these activities. collected information on a set of NASA can help you see and set your standard indicators since 2003. ! ese priorities. Much like your personal indicators are used to show progress bank account tells you about how you on the amount of resources that are Dear Kamma, live your life, so your national AIDS available for HIV activities; the scope What is a NASA and how can it help spending tells you about how you of national policies; treatment and us monitor our national strategic implement your HIV programmes. prevention programmes; HIV-related plan? You do not need to be a % nance behaviours; and the prevalence of − Not-So-Sure in Palau person to use NASA − it has simple HIV. ! e next round of reports is due Excel sheets to help you. You can do in March 2010. Dear Not-So-Sure in Palau, an online search for NASA using an In order for your country to do a NASA is not only for astronauts! Internet search engine. Just make sure review of UNGASS-related indicators, It is also a tool to help you track to write ‘NASA HIV’ in the search, it is important for partners to come the % nancial resources you use to otherwise you will get websites about together to discuss progress. ! e implement activities. NASA stands for the space shuttle and travel to the members of your national AIDS National AIDS Spending Assessment moon! committee, CCM or other body who and it provides information on Best of luck, meet to discuss HIV issues in your how much you actually spend Kamma country should come together to (expenditure) on HIV-related activities review the information. UNGASS each year. When you use this tool, it Dear Kamma, isn’t just a report that is submitted to can help you monitor your national We are writing our UNGASS 2010 the UN − it gives you the chance to strategic plan and see how, when and report. Who needs to be involved in % nd out what has been happening in where you are spending your HIV the process, and why? your country, learn new skills (such resources. − Thinking About UNGASS as % nancial reporting, epidemiology, NASA helps you to look at HIV and treatment and care basics) and spending for the entire country − not Dear ! inking About UNGASS, learn about policy and HIV % nancing just from government, but also from UNGASS stands for the United in your country. ! is information can civil society and other partners, such Nations General Assembly Special help you improve your programme as SPC and UNAIDS. It helps you to Session on HIV/AIDS. ! irteen and also your knowledge about HIV % nd the answers to questions like: countries in the Paci% c signed the and other STIs. If we have all partners Who " nances our activities? Who UNGASS Declaration of Commitment involved, we can share our knowledge manages the funds? Who donates the in 2001: Australia, Federated States and skills and learn about what is funds? What services or products are of Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, happening. being provided to the people in our Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua To learn more about UNGASS, country? Who bene" ts? New Guinea, , Solomon email Mohamed Turay at UNAIDS Why is this information important? Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. at [email protected], or contact Because it can help you identify gaps Every two years, these countries are other regional partners such as SPC in the funding and shows you where requested to submit a progress report and the NGO Alliance. Your national your priorities are (or are not!). For to the UN. A high-level meeting is HIV coordinators have been busy example, you may have many activities held at the UN a" er the reports are preparing for UNGASS, so you can targeting out-of-school youth in your submitted to discuss the % ndings and contact them too. workplan, but when you analyse what our national and global progress in Best of luck with reporting! funds you have spent on implementing the implementation of the declaration. Kamma PASA n° 35 – January 2010 27 Monitoring & Evaluation

Dear Kamma, programs for data analysis. Find someone I want to learn more about how to use who is working in the area and ask for their Microsoft Access and EpiInfo. Where advice. should I look for courses? ! ere are o" en ways to learn about so" ware − Mr Wants-Computer-Skills that are free. If you do have to pay, just make sure you check to see that the person Dear Mr Wants-Computer-Skills, and organisation you are dealing with ! ere are many places you can look for help are reputable. Do you get a certi% cate that to learn so" ware programs like Access and is internationally recognised (check the

EpiInfo. A great place to start is by % nding Internet!)? What training has the trainer y SPC. out if there are courses o# ered near you, done, and where? Do they have a certi% cate to either by a USP campus, a local university train you, and where is that certi% cate from? or college, or a local business that runs ! e % rst step is to start asking. It can be provided provided that SPC and the source computer courses. You can also go online hard if you are working in an isolated to take tutorials or lessons that are available environment, but there are a lot of free for free from the people who make the courses available and ways to improve your so" ware programs. skills by getting involved with surveys and You might also want to ask the IT person local research projects. Sometimes regional at your work or someone who works in and national partners are looking for IT for a good place to start. Your local people to help with research in remote and library might have some books on so" ware outer island settings; this is a great way to programs. Sometimes regional partners, help your community and build your skills. like CDC or SPC, o# er training to help Get out there and learn! with data analysis − you just have to % nd Kamma out how you can get involved. You can Please email your questions to also ask people working in your statistics [email protected] for the next edition o$ ce; they know a lot about so" ware of PASA!

Is it HIV? A handbook for health care providers Duc Nguyen (ASHM)

The Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM) and TREAT Asia (Therapeutics Research, Education, and AIDS Training in Asia) have collaborated on the Layout by Muriel Borderie – Printed by SPC Noumea Printery, production of Is it HIV? A handbook for health care providers. This valuable reference © Secretariat of 2010 the Community, – Pacific Original text: English

aims to help health-care professionals in Asia and the Paci! c to diagnose HIV with Produced financial assistance from AusAID and the Government. French infection at earlier stages of disease. This will facilitate more rapid treatment – www.spc.int/hiv Website: Email: [email protected] – by Coordinated Nicole Gooch

initiation and reduce both disease morbidity among HIV-infected people and HIV The use of a photo in this publication does not HIV imply status. anything about the person’s transmission in the region.

The handbook includes clinical descriptions of a wide spectrum of HIV-associated PASA, The Pacific The AIDS Pacific Alert Bulletin is PASA, a newsletter of the Secretariat of the Community Pacific (SPC) HIV & STI Section.

conditions, divided by organ systems into 15 chapters. The 2009 publication has document are properly acknowledged. Original SPC artwork may not be altered or separately published without permission.

been overseen by experts from ASHM and TREAT Asia, and has been produced The opinions expressed in articles in this magazine are those of the authors of the articles and are not necessarily endorsed b with the assistance of AusAID and the University of Malaya through an educational grant from P! zer Malaysia Sdn Bhd. It will be available in both hard copy and online via the ASHM and TREAT Asia websites. Reproduction of this material whole or in part in any form is encouraged in order to help spread the message before the virus, For further information, please contact Duc Nguyen at the ASHM o! ce, ph: +61 2 8204 0712, email: [email protected], or go to www.ashm.org.au

28 PASA n° 35 – January 2010