NGO SECTOR PLAN HCT CAMPAIGN

INTRODUCTION

This is a broad draft NGO Sector plan to guide the sector’s promotion of the HCT Campaign, and also includes information on some activities already planned and / or implemented by the NGO Sector. The NGO Sector is collectively implementing programmes and services that address different elements of the prevention programme, such as:

  • Information, education, mass mobilisation
  • STI detection and management
  • Know your status – HIV testing and counselling
  • Widespread provision of condoms (male and female)
  • Prevention of mother to child HIV transmision (PMTCT)
  • Life-skills education
  • Medical male circumcision

This plan will be further developed as more information is received from the sector on how organisations are promoting the HCT Campaign through their work.

BROAD PLAN

Mobilisation

The NGO Sector will utilise existing forums to raise community awareness and to promote and facilitate engagement with the HCT Campaign.

Examples:

  • The AIDS Consortium will rigourously promote the campaign through its monthly bua@AC meetings of NGOs and CBOs, and update attendees on campaign developments.
  • NACOSA (Networking AIDS Community of South Africa) will be raising community awareness and promoting engagement with campaign at its consultative forums. NACOSA will also distribute HCT material, Information and Education via various channels such as Consultative Meetings, other meetings, mentor visits and workshops.
  • AFSA (AIDS Foundation South Africa) will promote the campaign at its monthly NGO meetings with various groupings such as youth and Community Care-Workers (CCWs) amongst others. AFSA and its partner organisations are actively engaged in raising awareness, distributing HCT material, ensuring access to HCT, and monitoring treatment adherence.

The NGO Sector will step up and supplement their existing information distribution by distributing HCT Information and Education material from their distribution hubs as well as at all activities and programmes. These distribution modes will include:

  • Door to door – NGOs at The AIDS Consortium bua@AC on 13 April 2010 affirmed the value of, committed to door to door campaigning, funds permitting. CCWs can also play an important role in taking the campaign into homes and communities. AFSA and its partner organsiations conduct VCT door to door awareness. Humana People to People are also activley engaged in door to door mobilising.
  • Electronic distribution–The NGO Sector is in the process of developing an HCT newsletter in May 2010 for distribution to 14000 NGOs via the HIV911 database, which encompasses most of the larger network databases, as well as other NGO databases.
  • Meetings – NGOs will distribute HCT material at all their activities and programmes, such as NACOSA’s consultation forums, AFSA’s monthly meetings and The AIDS Consortium’s monthly bua@AC. (thousands of printed copies of the HCT messaging booklets are requested)
  • At places of services (eg Churches, Consulting Rooms, including that of traditional health practitioners) – CABSA reports that its members will include HCT messaging in services. A Pastor has also made a call for NGO s to link with FBOs on promoting the campaign. The NGO Sector is encouraged to engage with FBOs to support and / or collaborate on joint programmes.
  • Workplaces – The NGO Sector should, wherever possible, utilise access to workplaces to promote the HCT campiagn and encourage access to testing at workplaces. For example, HorisonHospice is implementing Workplace Dialogues and testing drives. AFSA’s partner organisation, Mvoti AIDS Centre in KZN, plans to working with 10 businesses, and have appointments with 5 banks for testing.
  • Entertainment hubs (cinemas, shopping malls) – The NGO Sectorshould maximise the ready audiences at places of entertainment where large numbers of people gather, such as cinemas, shopping malls and other places relevant to particular communities, to promote the campaign.
  • Community events – Community events should be targeted for promotion of the campaign, distribution of HCT material and making testing and counselling services available.

NGOs are encouraged to update their networks and databases for the identification and recruitment of mobilisers. TheFoundation for Professional Development (FPD) has collated a database of the 4399NGO and governmentHCT sites. The HIV911 database is also freely available. NACOSA - key role - players from the various sub districts have been identified by Programme Officers from each sub district. NACOSA Newsletter, website, CHAIN mail and other NACOSA communication tools can be used to distribute communication material from the SANAC Communication, Advocacy and Campaign branch.In terms of PLWHA, NACOSA can provide details of support groups in all the sub districts through its database.

NACOSA can distribute the twice-weekly HCT Campaign email/fax communication with the latest updates on key developments through out the network, as can other networks.

The NGO Sector is encouraged to distribute communication material, particularly the HCT Messaging Booklet, as rigorously and widely as possible at every distribution hub and activity. For this to happen effectively, thousands of copies will be needed for mass distribution.

NGOs are also encouraged to supplement existing material with other community friendly material which they may have developed or producedin their work preceding the campaign. For example, The AIDS Consortium will be distributing various posters they previously developed around Testing at bua@AC, in addition to HCT campaign material. (attached see ‘The test will set you free, Life at the end of the Test’, etc)

The provision and distribution of male and female condoms should be scaled up, and a ready supply ensured atall times.

The national Nerve Centre, which is the heart of the HCT Campaign, meets daily. . Janine Mitchell has been identified to represent the NGO Sector at these meetings, at least once a week, and will provide feedback from these meetings to the Sector.

Provision of services

  • Pre test and post test counselling

and

  • HIV testing

The FPD database lists 4399 HCT sites, of which approximately 602 are NGO sites, the balance government sites. .

In the North West Province, Traditional Leaders at an AIDS Consortium Training session expressed interest and desire to test immediately. This indicates that with the right dialogue, all interest groups might be committed to testing. There is hence a need for non-clinical testing sites such as mobile testing clinics, at places such as shopping centres, youth clubs, taxi ranks, shebeens etc.

CATHCA plans to establish 4 new HCT sites in under-served rural areas, and aims to test 12 000 people overall. CATHCA also plans to procure and distribute 20 000 rapid test kits

NACOSA has identified and submitted names of organisations providing VCT to the City Health Dept and the Khomanani organizers. NACOSA member organisations are actively engaging in the process via their networks; NACOSA encourages member organisations to suggest volunteers- nominees are then screened by City Health. The volunteers are orientated and trained via the Cape Town City Health Department.

Through its Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) Programme,Humana People to People currently employ 950 Field Officers in 6 TCE projects in 5 Provinces. The Field Officers daily reach to a population of 1.9 million South Africans in a massive door to door person to person campaign as in the detailed table below:-

Name of Project / District of Operation / Province / Size of the project / Funding Partner
1 / TCE Mopani / Mopani District / LimpopoProvince / 5 TCE Areas employing 250 Field Officers reaching 500.000 people / PEPFAR
2 / TCE Ehlanzeni / Ehlanzeni District / MpumalangaProvince / 3 TCE Areas employing 150 Field Officers reaching 300.000 people / PEPFAR
3 / TCE Sekhukhune / Sekhukhune District / LimpopoProvince / 3 TCE Areas employing 150 Field Officers reaching 300.000 people / Global Funds
4 / TCE Main Reef / WestRandDistrict / GautengProvince / 3 TCE Areas employing 150 Field Officers reaching 300.000 people / Global Funds
5 / TCE Ilembe / Ilembe District / KwaZuluNatalProvince / 3 TCE Areas employing 150 Field Officers reaching 300.000 people / Global Funds
6 / TCE Amathole / Amathole District / Eastern Cape Province / 2 TCE Areas employing 100 Field Officers reaching 200.000 people / Global Funds & Amathole District

The table below shows in figures the numbers of people that Humana People to People in South Africa will be able to reach throughthe National HCT Campaign with the current capacity in the TCE program.This can be done through a combination of daily door to door campaigns and mobile testing campaigns together with the Department of Health.

This TCE campaign alone creates demand for SANAC/Department of Health to have available:

-190 Nurses

-1.188 Counselors

-798.000 Test Kits

-Mobile Units

  • Training of service providers –CATHCA plans to ensure that their 10 existing sites are accredited with DOH. CATHCA also plans to recruit, train and mentor 40 HCT counsellors. The AIDS Consortium is also developing an HCT training module to train its affiliates as well as extending the training to non-affiliate NGOs and CBOs. The plan is to apply for accreditation of the HCT module, pilot in Gauteng and then roll out to other provinces as resources are received.

High level advocacy

The NGO Sector will utilise every platform available as opportunities for advocacy. For example, The AIDS Consortium promoted the HCT Campaign, non-discrimination and destigmatisation at its recent Ubuntu Gala Dinner at which the high profile heroes of The AIDS Consortium’s Heroes Campaign were profiled and advocated for non-discrimination and destigmatisation through a panel discussion. NACOSA participates in HCT information sharing via the NGO and Children’s sector.

Providing resources to support campaign implementation

NGOs can support each other (the NGOs more resourced in skills, expertise, financial, material, and human resources can support the less resourced NGOs). NGOs can also share resources within and across the sector. For example, The AIDS Consortium will distribute its posters that encourage testing.Staff from NACOSA are actively supporting the campaign, distribution of information, encouraging awareness. NACOSA and others have integratedthe campaign into current activities so costs incurred by NACOSA for the campaign are absorbed.NACOSA Newsletter, website, CHAIN mail, database and other NACOSA communication tools can be used to distribute communication material from the SANAC Communication, Advocacy and Campaign branch.

Involvement of vulnerable populations and creation of enabling environments

The NGO Sector can make significant contributions towards mobilising of and within vulnerable populations.

  • Mine Workers – Eg. The AIDS Consortium is using the training of Impala Mines as a platform to promote the HCT Campaign
  • Correctional Services – inmates – Eg. NGOs such as Sonke Gender Justice and TAC undertake prison work
  • Health workers and managers – Eg. The AIDS Consortium is involved in ongoing messaging at bua@AC, these are attended by countless mid to low level health care workers and managers
  • Migrants and refugees – Eg. RHRU does work with migrants and refugees. Mvoti AIDS Centre is involved in raising awareness, distributing HCT material, promoting access to HCT, and monitoring treatment adherence.
  • Informal settlements – NGOs can facilitate easy access to testing
  • Mobile communities, taxi and truck drivers – NGOs can facilitate easy access to testing. Mvoti AIDS Centre conducts awareness and training in KZN.
  • Older men and women – NGOs can target old age institutionas and pension points to promote the campaign. Mvoti AIDS Centre provides HIV and AIDS information to senior citizens at pension pay points, rural clinics and tribal halls.

NACOSA’s mobilisation will include informing network partners/contacts working with vulnerable populations.

Cross-Sector Mobilisation

There are many cross-cutting issues around HCT and the NGO Sector cuts across the 17 other SANAC sectors, providing scope for cross sectoral collaboration.

People Living with HIV Sector

The AIDS Consortium’s Heroes Campaign is one example of the NGO Sector working with the People Living with HIV Sector. The Heroes Campaign was the first phase of a destigmatisation campaign that nominated and profiled on a monthly basis a well-known person living with HIV from different walks of life, such as a Traditional Healer, Black gay priest, White woman, musician, Muslim woman and a Constitutional Court Jugde of international standing. The second phase of the Heroes Campaign is the Community Champions Campaign, which takes the campaign to scale through community mobilisation. Leaders from community organisations in different communities are identified and trained in human rights. Different Community Champions are profiled each month.

Sport & Entertainment Sector

The NGO Sector is partnering with the Sport & Entertainment Sector on various campaigns around the World Cup, such as Fair Play and Show Me Your Number. This provides a vital platform for mass mobilisation around testing.

Human Rights and Law

The HCT Campaign is an entry point to HIV services but also useful in breaking down stigma and discrimination, as more people test and therefore normalise testing. There may however be unintended outcomes of testing and disclosure. Being so close to community, the NGO Sector is well placed to pick up and respond to these issues and mitigate further complications. The AIDS Consortium are therefore partnering with Pro Bono.Org to provide free HIV and AIDS Legal advice through weekly Legal Clinics, which five large law firms currently support.

The NGO Sectoris also in partnership with the Human Rights and Law Sector to develop a Human Rights Manual to train community activists such as the Community Champions, to be able to train communities on how to identify and respond to human rights violations. The organisations involved in the partnership are

The AIDS Law Project (soon to be Section 27),Pro Bono. Org, AIDS Legal Network, Legal Resources Centre, Treatment Action Campaign, and Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, Community Media Trust and The AIDS Consortium.

Sector Participation at the Nerve Centre

Janine Mitchell has been identified to represent the NGO Sector at the national Nerve Centre meetings and will communicate regular feedback to the sector working group to disseminate to our various networks.

Sector Participation at Provincial / District Launches

Proposed Sectors participation at Provincial/District Launches

There has been little communication nationally and provincially regarding launches.

Province: District / SANAC sector participation (Y/N) / Details of participation
Eastern Cape: OR Tambo / No information at this stage
Free State: Motheo / No information at this stage
Gauteng: Ekurhuleni / No / No sector participation, no NGOs have been contacted, Provincial AIDS Councils not involved.
National Launch has now however been communicated via SANAC.
Kwa Zulu Natal: Ugu / No / Little communication, little civil society representation
Limpopo: Capricorn / Yes / Good communication. The AIDS Consortium and Foundation for Professional Development (Mother & Child) is involved in the plenary launch planning meetings.
Sauwe Maditsi
Western Cape: City of Cape Town / Yes / NGOs invited to a meeting to develop a joint plan. NACOSA is involved.
NACOSA will be attending the launch in Khayelitsha, extending the invitation to itsr membership in the districts and will continue to assist in keeping the campaign alive.
Benjamin van Rensberg/Bernadette Liederman
North West: Dr. Kenneth Kaunda / Yes / Good communication. The AIDS Consortium was involved in preparatory meeting of stake-holders with Job Tabane Hospital.
Thapelo Rapoo
Northern Cape: JT Gaetsewe district / No / Little communication, little civil society representation. Only certain structures involved.
Mpumalanga: Gert Sibande / Yes / MATA involved in Provincial planning meeting convened by DOH
Msanyana Skosana

Challenges / Suggestions

  • More direction from SANAC required
  • More communication required generally
  • Provincial contact persons required, etc
  • Scale up trainings on treatment literacy, HIV and TB, Counselling and Testing
  • Promote community dialogues around the HCT Campaign and the messaging booklet
  • Workplace Dilaogues
  • SANAC should print thousands of copies of the messaging booklet for mass distribution

Conclusion

The NGO Sector does not have the capacity to monitor and track NGOs’ promotion / implementation of the

HCT Campaign and related activities, but the sector commits to mass information and education using the messaging booklet, as well as HCT integration across all services wherever possible. The Sector can identify hubs at various NGOs for mass distribution of HCT material. These NGOs include The AIDS Consortium, AFSA, CATHCA, Mpumulanga HIV/AIDS &TB ASSOCIATION (MATA), Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), and Community Media Trust and many more.

The NGO Sector is also calling for support from SANAC in better comunication across all levels, and for contact details of support persons in each Province.

This plan should be considered a draft which will be updated as more sector organisations share and grow

their plans.

Contributors to this plan

NACOSA

CATHCA

CABSA

FPD

The AIDS Consortium

Humana People to People

AIDS Foundation South Africa

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