AIC Forms more Partnerships for Better Service Delivery.

AIDS Information recently built partnerships with other organizations to increase HCT uptake and reach more people with services. It is hoped that through these partnerships AIC will be able to reach more people with services and also build capacity of such organizations to offer similar services. Among the partnerships created include:

Strengthening of Tuberculosis and AIDS Response in Eastern Uganda (STAR-E)

AIC signed an MOU with Management Sciences for Health (MSH) for nine months effective (January 2010 - 30 September 2010) to implement an HIV/AIDS program under STAR-E in Eastern region targeting 30,000 clients with HCT. The program is covering the districts of Busia, Bukwo, Kapchorwa, Mbale, Budaka, Sironko, Butaleja, Bududa and Busia.

The main focus of the MOU includes:

* Capacity building for effective HCT service delivery through improved planning with the communities to divide roles between AIC and the selected communities;
* Support to HCT outreach programs and quality assurance.
* Support to coordination activities aimed at improving reporting and giving the feedback to stakeholders.

MJAP

AIC signed an MOU with MJAP for period October 2009 - 30 September 2010 to support the AIC branches of Arua, Soroti and Mbale to reach 200,000 clients with HCT. The MOU focuses on four main technical areas:

* Capacity building for effective HCT service delivery through supervision of trained cadres in Health units to strengthen their skills, knowledge and competencies;
* Support to HCT outreach programs targeting MARPS through CBOs and selected health facilities and RCT at the health centres;
* Establish and strengthen "Post Test Clubs" to Scale up community response to HIV prevention;
* Strengthening systems in the districts through Human resources, M&E, data management, community response and Supply Chain Management

UNFPA/PACE

AIC has signed an MOU with PACE to implement a program on sexual reproductive health and HIV services in the districts of Oyam, Moroto and Mubende with funding from UNFPA.

UNICEF

UNICEF provided supported AIC with CD4 reagents to support palliative care services to HIV positive clients in AIC branches. The following items were received.

* FACS Clean solution,9X5 Litres
* FACs flow fluids,33X20
* FACS Count solution,9X5
* FACS Count reagents,180 X50 Tests
* FACS count controls, 45X25 Tests
* Vacutainer needles,10X1000
* Vacutainer needle holders, 4.15X1000
* Alcohol Swabs,100X100
* Pipette Tips, 61X1000
* Gloves (Examination),100X100

The consignment is expected to ensure continuous supply of the reagents to AIC branches for one year.

Commemorating the International Candle Light Memorial

Every year, Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International candlelight memorial. The International theme for this year was "Many Lights for Human Rights". Uganda organized an awareness week where a number of activities including boda boda sensitization, football tournaments, media campaign, community dialogues, radio and television shows, blood donation, home/hospital visits, school visits, performance by music artists and printing of IEC materials among others.

The commemoration of this day was crowned with a major event on May 18th, 2010 at Busoga Square in Jinja under the slagon ‘Light up the HIV Response’.

The international candle light memorial is one of the oldest and largest grassroots mobilization campaigns for HIV&AIDS awareness in the world. Started in 1983, the Candlelight Memorial takes place every third Sunday in May to honor the lost and raise social consciousness about the disease. The Candlelight also provides opportunities for leadership development, policy advocacy, partnerships, and improvement of community mobilization skills.

In Uganda the first international candlelight memorial was observed in 1988. During that inaugural memorial, TASO, working with the government of Uganda played a key role and mobilized their support groups which mainly constituted people infected and those affected by AIDS at that time. Since then, Uganda has commemorated the international candlelight memorial as a pre-cursor to World AIDS Day, every year.

AIDS Information centre participated in activities that included HIV counseling and testing starting on 10th to 18th May 2010, and exhibiting on the commemoration day.

Over 420,000 people test for HIV with AIDS Information Centre, Uganda

During the year 2009, AIC continued to contribute to the national HIV&AIDS prevention efforts by providing HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) services among other services. The organisation also continued to design strategies aimed at increasing access to HIV counseling and testing, care and support services. HIV and AIDS, malaria and Tuberculosis remained the main focus of medical services in the organisation. The year saw 422,610 clients counseled and tested for HIV. This was the highest number of clients tested by AIC in a single year since inception.

The majority 51% accessed HCT services in outreaches, 36% in district sites and 13% at AIC main branches. This is comparable to 2008 where 42% of the HCT services were accessed in outreaches, 35% in District sites and 23% in AIC main branches of Arua, Jinja, Kabale Kampala, Lira, Mbale, Mbarara, and Soroti.

Of those tested 57% were female while 43% were male. Female clients are more inclined to know their HIV status as opposed to their male counterparts. This has been the trend for the last five years. It is now expected that with the new program targeting couples, the number of males accessing HCT will increase

The adult age group 25-49 years constituted the majority, accounting for 47% of AIC’s clients. The youth and children below 25 years accounted for 45%.

Summary of AIC service achievements during 2009

• 422,610 received HIV counselling and testing and received their results
• 31,038 clients accessed counselling and testing and received results as couples
• 1,112 prisoners received HCT and got their results in Gulu and Luzira Upper Prison
• 119,612 individuals received abstinence and Being faithful messages through drama and other PTC activities
• 356,681 individuals received abstinence and Being faithful messages through as part of HCT
• 137,663 as part of HCT to youth and children below 24 years
• 1,197,009 pieces of condoms were distributed to 8,642 individuals
• 8,299 clients received Basic care packages.
• 44,861 HIV positive clients were screened for TB
• 8,387 TB patients were counseled and tested for HIV
• 967 TB clients co-infected with HIV had their CD4 count tests done
• 363 TB/HIV co-infected clients were referred for Anti retro viral therapy
• 1057 participants benefitted from different training programmes

For a detailed report please contact AIDS Information Centre at informationdesk@aicug.org

Fighting HIV&AIDS Among Youth through Sports

AIDS Information Center-Uganda (AIC) in partnership with Uganda Students AIDS Prevention Association (TUSAPA) organized the first ever sports galla aimed at increasing HIV&AIDS awareness among young people in schools through sports. The event was dubbed ‘Inter-Secondary School HIV/AIDS Prevention Sports Tournament 2010’ and was the first of its kind in Uganda.

The tournament ran for 4 days with 12 secondary schools participating and these included Old Kampala Secondary school, St. Mary’s college Kitende, Kololo S.S.S, City High school, Kampala citizen college school, Mengo Secondary school, Lubiri High school, Uganda Martyrs High school Rubaga, Kithende College School, Kampala Secondary School, Nakasero Secondary school, and Kingsway High school.

Among the games competed for included Football (Major), Netball, Basketball, and Volley ball. All these games were conducted at the same time and same venue where football was being played.

The tournament attracted a number of young people and this was used as a good avenue to reach them with HIV&AIDS Information. As the young people enjoyed the games AIDS Information centre used it as an opportunity to provide services like HIV counseling and testing, educational talks on HIV&AIDS, reproductive health, family planning, drug addictions and dangers of early pregnancies.

Information was passed on to these youth through loud speakers and groups discussions. Young people were asking different questions on HIV&AIDS, pregnancies and other health related issues.

Over 25,000 young people were reached with information on HIV&AIDS and other health concerns. The matches also attracted a number of other people who were not necessarily students who benefited from the free HIV counseling and testing that was provided free of charge at the venue.

St. Mary’s College - Kitende emerged as the football trophy winner after beating Old Kampala Secondary school. Old Kampala won the Basketball trophy, Uganda Martyrs High School won the Volleyball trophy and Kampala Citizen College School won the Netball trophy.

Special thanks to the football governing body (FUFA), SIMKA the Ice Cream Company for their support in making the tournament a success.