AEGiS-14IAC: Community Counsellor's role in HIV/STD Prevention in a rural community.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Community Counsellor's role in HIV/STD Prevention in a rural community.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. F11763)

Tea-Oui MC, Niakamatchi BG, Kaine F, Ganiot A, Collomba ID
ANJLSC, Bangui, Central African Republic

BACKGROUND: Mobilising the community and giving them responsibilities of reducing the speed of HIV/STD in their respective community.

METHODS: The program started in July 1999. Through community mobilisation and sensitisation, 8 credible community counsellors were identified with variation of age and education and more females than male were identified. They under went training in a two weeks workshop. The team returned to their community to undertake their role as community counsellors.

RESULTS: In the first few months of their work, very little impact was observed, constraints were transport and lack of proper supervision. - All the primary and secondary school had received and established health Education programme on HIV/STD prevention - Health learning material distributed including 1997 calendars to community members - Home based care and support for 11 AIDS patient - 13 orphans were identified and in need orphans were identified for the village to plan strategies for assisting them - Referral of suspected HIV infected to the district hospitals for counselling and testing - The community counsellors have identified a wide variety of issues as being related to the proliferation of AIDS in their society.

CONCLUSION: This is an on going programme. The community now feel empowered when trying to solve their our problem. When the community are mobilised and supervised regularly, the are the key actors in HIV/STD prevention.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Rural Population, HIV Seropositivity, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Counseling, Health Education, Foster Home Care, Health Services Needs and Demand, Human, Female, MaleKWDaegis,hivinfections,ruralpopulation,hivseropositivity,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,counseling,healtheducation,fosterhomecare,healthservicesneedsanddemand,human,female,male

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F11763

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.