Uganda Workplace HIV/AIDS Prevention Project (WAPP) Kyenjojo Mubende Kampala RTI International is implementing a 4-year (2003–2007) HIV prevention and impact mitigation project that seeks Masaka to stem HIV infections in Ugandan informal-sector workplaces. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, the program provides support for approaches that include ■ “ABC” (abstinence, being faithful, condom use) HIV prevention methods Accomplishments to date ■ Prevention of mother-to-child transmission During the past 2 years, RTI has reached nearly 530,000 ■ Reduction of HIV/AIDS-related stigma and people through project-supported programs. Informal- discrimination at the workplace sector workers reached include market vendors, boda ■ Mitigation of the impact of HIV/AIDS among informal- boda (motorcycle and bicycle) transporters, carpenters, sector workers and their families. fi shermen and fi sh processors, taxi operators, food vendors and attendants, bar and lodge attendants, shop attendants, Collaboration shoe shiners, and tea harvesters. Project-supported activities We collaborate closely with the government, national and include the following: international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and community- and faith-based organizations (CBOs and Group education on HIV/AIDS FBOs). Th e program strengthens the ability of CBOs and With its partner FBOs and CBOs, RTI has successfully FBOs to better implement HIV/AIDS activities locally. organized 850 HIV/AIDS education and awareness campaigns for informal-sector workers that include Operating in Kampala, Kyenjojo, Masaka, and Mubende/ health talks, drama, and testimonies from persons living Mityana districts, RTI’s approach is to reach a large number with HIV/AIDS, combined with dialogue sessions where of informal-sector workers with HIV prevention and participants are encouraged to ask questions and off er mitigation messages through cost-eff ective and effi cient their own perspectives on HIV prevention. Each activity is mechanisms. organized in close consultation with the targeted informal workers and is conducted in the vicinity of their workplace, such as a market, fi shing village, or transporters’ stage to encourage their participation. With an average attendance of 40 to 70 participants, WAPP reaches a large number of workers at one time. Topics discussed at these meetings are varied and include: ■ transmission mechanisms of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) ■ signs and symptoms of STIs in men and women, the diff erence between HIV /AIDS HIV/AIDS education meeting with members of Masaka Taxi Operators and ■ implications of stigma denial and discrimination in the Drivers Association. [Photo: Chris Ssentongo] spread of HIV, (continued) “People in this community are very happy with RTI activities. Although HIV/ AIDS has been in Uganda for many years, this project is the fi rst to target informal-sector workers in our community.” —Peer educator from Ggaba Community health meeting with Kanyanya market HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness campaign at Kaziru “Th is project has done good vendors, Kampala district. [Photo: Chris Ssentongo] fi shing village, Masaka district. [Photo: Chris Ssentongo] work by reaching us, the plantation workers, because ■ prevention of mother-to child transmission Small grants and capacity building for CBOs and FBOs we spend most of our of HIV Out of 379 eligible applicants, 46 grassroots time working and we miss CBOs/FBOs have used small grants of $3,000 ■ the “ABC” approaches to HIV prevention sensitization in the villages. to $5,000 per year for 2 to 3 years to widen ■ voluntary counseling and testing, discordant But now we can get this partners, referrals for HIV/AIDS services their scope of project activities and to improve information from our fellow their capacity to conduct such activities among workers at work and in the ■ the importance of early treatment, partner informal-sector workers. In each district, camps.” notifi cation, and prevention against STIs. organizations with successful track records —Tea plantation worker from Peer education activities were selected by a panel composed of project Kakonde tea factory In addition to health education campaigns, staff ; representatives from the district or local RTI has successfully selected and trained peer government; and in the case of Kampala, “With funds from this project, educators from the targeted informal-sector partner NGOs. Th e organizations receiving we have been able to enlighten our fellow disabled women workplaces. Once trained, peer educators support include drama groups, market vendors’ about HIV/AIDS and how to provide HIV/AIDS outreach to their fellow associations, community self-help projects, avoid risky behaviors at their workers (typically on a one-on-one basis). Th is persons living with HIV/AIDS groups, associations for persons with disabilities, workplaces.” method has proven effi cient and cost-eff ective, —Grantee representative for the and has the potential for sustainability since faith-based health centers, traditional healers Association of Disabled Workers the trained peer educators volunteer for associations, and taxi drivers associations. Th is in Kawempe the activities and are part of the targeted support enhances their capacity to carry out workforce. A total of 409 peer educators have various types of HIV prevention activities for “We have used some of the been trained in the four districts (Kampala, informal-sector groups in the focus districts. project support to develop Kyenjojo, Masaka, and Mubende). To guide RTI focuses on the following critical areas of need a revolving fund. Th is has assisted some of our their activities, all peer educators are given a for each organization: fellow members to continue reference handbook in Luganda, Lutooro, or ■ Providing training or support to scale-up HIV with their business of food English. Each peer educator speaks with 20 prevention activities vending.” people per month—typically fellow workers, ■ Conducting program evaluations and impact —Grantee representative of the customers, and neighborhood residents—and Nakasero Market Women Group assessments makes about 3 to 5 referrals for HIV/AIDS and STI services per month. Between May ■ Providing report writing and accounting services Th is project is funded by the 2004 and March 2006, peer educators reached U.S. Department of Labor under 367,822 people with HIV/AIDS prevention ■ Strengthening partnerships between the cooperative agreement number messages and referred 14,965 people to health informal sector and the government. E9-K-3-0099. facilities for services. Peer educators also To enhance sustainability and minimize the eff ects receive annual refresher training from project For more information about of staff attrition, each organization is represented staff ; every 3 months, they also participate in the project, please contact by 2 to 3 participants in the training sessions. a group meeting with other peer educators to Robert Ssengonzi WAPP project staff also visit each organization RTI-3589 07/2007 share and learn from each other’s experiences. E-mail: [email protected] every 3 months to assess its performance. RTI International is one of the world’s leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. With projects in more than 40 countries and a staff of more than 2,600, RTI off ers innovative research and technical solutions to governments and businesses worldwide in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, democratic governance, economic and social development, energy, and the environment. For more information, visit www.rti.org. RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute..