WORLD AIDS DAY PRESENTATION OF FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION’S (FHF) HIV/AIDS ACTIVITIES IN GHANA VENUE: GIMPA DISTANCE LEARNING CENTER AT GREENHILL, ACHIMOTA.

WORLD AIDS DAYWORLD AIDS DAY

PRESENTATION OF FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION’S (FHF) HIV/AIDS PRESENTATION OF FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION’S (FHF) HIV/AIDS ACTIVITIES IN GHANAACTIVITIES IN GHANA

VENUE: GIMPA DISTANCE LEARNING CENTER AT GREENHILL, VENUE: GIMPA DISTANCE LEARNING CENTER AT GREENHILL, ACHIMOTA.ACHIMOTA.

DATE: 29DATE: 29THTH NOVEMBER 2005 NOVEMBER 2005

BY:BY:

MRS JANE MANSA OKRAH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FHF, ANDMRS JANE MANSA OKRAH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FHF, AND

MR. RANSFORD BLANKSON PROGRAMME COORDINATOR, FHF MR. RANSFORD BLANKSON PROGRAMME COORDINATOR, FHF

OUTLINEOUTLINE

INTRODUCTION – GHANAINTRODUCTION – GHANA BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT

FHFFHF OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES FHF’S MAIN ACTIVITIES IN RELATIONS FHF’S MAIN ACTIVITIES IN RELATIONS

TO HIV/AIDSTO HIV/AIDS

INTRODUCTION - GHANAINTRODUCTION - GHANA

Ghana is an Anglophone country in West Ghana is an Anglophone country in West AfricaAfrica

Population of 18,290,568 with females Population of 18,290,568 with females constituting 50.5% of the total populationconstituting 50.5% of the total population

National population growth rate is 2.6%National population growth rate is 2.6% Ghana has a very youthful population with Ghana has a very youthful population with

40.8% of the population being under 40.8% of the population being under 15years old.15years old.

PROJECT AREASPROJECT AREAS FHF currently operates in two regions of the FHF currently operates in two regions of the

country, the Greater Accra and the Central country, the Greater Accra and the Central Region of Ghana.Region of Ghana.

Greater Accra RegionGreater Accra Region Tema Municipality, Communities, one & two, Tema Municipality, Communities, one & two,

Tema New Town, Ashaiman and Agbogbloshie Tema New Town, Ashaiman and Agbogbloshie in the Ashiedu Keteke District of the Accra in the Ashiedu Keteke District of the Accra Metropolis.Metropolis.

Central RegionCentral Region Mankessim Mankessim

BACKGROUND INFORMATION BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT FHFABOUT FHF

In Ghana, population of young persons between 10 to 19 In Ghana, population of young persons between 10 to 19 years has increased from 20% in 1993 to 30% in 2000 years has increased from 20% in 1993 to 30% in 2000 (source: 2000 Ghana Population and Housing Census)(source: 2000 Ghana Population and Housing Census)

High increase in rate of early childbearing, high rate of High increase in rate of early childbearing, high rate of single parenthood, poverty, child labour, lack of parental single parenthood, poverty, child labour, lack of parental supervision often leading to consequences such as too supervision often leading to consequences such as too early and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and early and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and recently HIV/AIDSrecently HIV/AIDS

FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION (FHF) was established FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION (FHF) was established in 2000 to contribute in addressing the above.in 2000 to contribute in addressing the above.

OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES

Promote spiritual, mental, physical social health and Promote spiritual, mental, physical social health and development of young people and their families in FHF development of young people and their families in FHF project communities within the country.project communities within the country.

Increase access of target groups to information, Increase access of target groups to information, education, and services on Sexual Reproductive Health education, and services on Sexual Reproductive Health and Primary Health care including Sexually Transmitted and Primary Health care including Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/AIDS, Teenage pregnancy, Family Infections, HIV/AIDS, Teenage pregnancy, Family Planning, Drug abuse, Child labour, personal hygiene, Planning, Drug abuse, Child labour, personal hygiene, good nutrition, prevention of malaria, etc.good nutrition, prevention of malaria, etc.

Equip them with knowledge and skills that will enable Equip them with knowledge and skills that will enable them develop positive attitudes towards their own sexual them develop positive attitudes towards their own sexual health and that of their peers.health and that of their peers.

OBJECTIVES CONTINUEDOBJECTIVES CONTINUED Equip parents, guardians and relevant societal groups Equip parents, guardians and relevant societal groups

with knowledge and skills on positive parenting, Sexual with knowledge and skills on positive parenting, Sexual Reproductive Health including HIV/AIDS, Family Reproductive Health including HIV/AIDS, Family Planning/Population issues, laws affecting women and Planning/Population issues, laws affecting women and children, harmful tradition practices and poverty children, harmful tradition practices and poverty alleviation.alleviation.

Provide capacity building to organization, NGOs and Provide capacity building to organization, NGOs and MDAs in relevant Sexual Reproductive Health matters, MDAs in relevant Sexual Reproductive Health matters, project/programme development, Research, project/programme development, Research, Monitoring/Evaluation, Advocacy, etc.Monitoring/Evaluation, Advocacy, etc.

Influence policy through advocacy, sensitization, Influence policy through advocacy, sensitization, collaboration and networking.collaboration and networking.

IN SCHOOL PROJECTIN SCHOOL PROJECT Capacity BuildingCapacity Building

Peer Educators- Peers are trained to Peer Educators- Peers are trained to teach their peersteach their peers

Patrons/ Teachers- They act as mentorsPatrons/ Teachers- They act as mentors Parents- Involving PTA members in Parents- Involving PTA members in

educating and communicating HIV/AIDS educating and communicating HIV/AIDS issues with their wardsissues with their wards

Frequent involvement of Head Frequent involvement of Head teachersteachers For schools to own the projectFor schools to own the project

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGYIMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

Mainly Peer EducationMainly Peer Education Sessional MeetingsSessional Meetings Club MeetingsClub Meetings PTA interactionsPTA interactions

LESSONS LEARNTLESSONS LEARNT

Involving all stake holders, students, Involving all stake holders, students, teachers, headmasters, parents and teachers, headmasters, parents and community members is helpful in ensuring community members is helpful in ensuring success of the project.success of the project.

Primary school pupils are more interested Primary school pupils are more interested in the project than Senior Secondary in the project than Senior Secondary School students.School students.

SUCCESSSUCCESS

Have educated and counseled about Have educated and counseled about 50,000 young persons on Sexual 50,000 young persons on Sexual Reproductive Health issues particularly the Reproductive Health issues particularly the prevention of HIV/AIDS.prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Have trained 400 Peer Educators and Have trained 400 Peer Educators and Counsellors.Counsellors.

Have established HIV/AIDS programmes Have established HIV/AIDS programmes in 40 schools in Ashaiman and Tema.in 40 schools in Ashaiman and Tema.

SUCCESS CONT’DSUCCESS CONT’D Some young persons who previously were Some young persons who previously were

engaged in premarital sexual relations engaged in premarital sexual relations have now stopped completelyhave now stopped completely

Young persons in target schools and Young persons in target schools and communities have become role models in communities have become role models in the project areas.the project areas.

Incidence of HIV/AIDS and other sexual Incidence of HIV/AIDS and other sexual related conditions have reduced in the related conditions have reduced in the target schools.target schools.

CHALLANGESCHALLANGES

Finding time on the busy curriculum to fix Finding time on the busy curriculum to fix club/sessions and meeting days.club/sessions and meeting days.

OUT OF SCHOOL OUT OF SCHOOL

This project is targeted at young people This project is targeted at young people who are not in school or have completed who are not in school or have completed school and are at home.school and are at home.

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES Life Planning Skills (LPS)Life Planning Skills (LPS) DramaDrama Film showsFilm shows Home visitsHome visits Group discussions Group discussions

Lessons Learnt Lessons Learnt To achieve success in working with out of school youth, To achieve success in working with out of school youth,

you should constantly supervise them.you should constantly supervise them.

Some income generations activities should be Some income generations activities should be considered in providing them with SRH programmes.considered in providing them with SRH programmes.

SUCCESSSUCCESS

Most adolescents in the communities can Most adolescents in the communities can now talk freely about issues relating to now talk freely about issues relating to sex.sex.

The target group have now become The target group have now become confident and assertive regarding their RH confident and assertive regarding their RH rightsrights

The target group have become role The target group have become role models in their communitiesmodels in their communities

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES Inconvenient time schedules for the LPS Inconvenient time schedules for the LPS

sections.sections.

Issue of literacy; semi-literates who found it Issue of literacy; semi-literates who found it difficult to properly understand and assimilate difficult to properly understand and assimilate simple lessons.simple lessons.

Irregular attendance to LPS sessions Irregular attendance to LPS sessions

Dwindling interest of Behaviour Change Dwindling interest of Behaviour Change Communication promoters Communication promoters

VOLUNTARY COUNSELLIN AND VOLUNTARY COUNSELLIN AND TESTING FOR HIV/AIDSTESTING FOR HIV/AIDS

Permanent VCT site established at Permanent VCT site established at AshaimanAshaiman

Mobile VCT project implemented in Mobile VCT project implemented in Agbogbloshie in the Ashiedu Keteke Agbogbloshie in the Ashiedu Keteke DistrictDistrict

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGYIMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY Involvement of health and non health professionals as Involvement of health and non health professionals as

councillors and testorscouncillors and testors Use of approved counselling protocols and guidelinesUse of approved counselling protocols and guidelines Use of quality assurance techniquesUse of quality assurance techniques Involvement of stakeholders from the National AIDS Involvement of stakeholders from the National AIDS

Control programme, AIDS Commission, Ghana Health Control programme, AIDS Commission, Ghana Health Service, department of Social welfare, other NGOs and Service, department of Social welfare, other NGOs and target group.target group.

Referral of positive cases to approved health facilities Referral of positive cases to approved health facilities Provision of care and support to positive casesProvision of care and support to positive cases Services provided free of charge. Services provided free of charge.

SUCCESSESSUCCESSES

Over 4,500 persons counselled and tested Over 4,500 persons counselled and tested within a period of two and a half yearswithin a period of two and a half years

Out of this, about 3% tested positive, in Out of this, about 3% tested positive, in consonance with national dataconsonance with national data

VCT sites of FHF included in national VCT VCT sites of FHF included in national VCT sites of the countrysites of the country

Counsellors and Testors of FHF involved Counsellors and Testors of FHF involved in national capacity building programmesin national capacity building programmes

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTSOTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

FHF has established a networking and FHF has established a networking and collaborative group on HIV/AIDS and VCT collaborative group on HIV/AIDS and VCT in the project areasin the project areas

FHF has established a bi-monthly FHF has established a bi-monthly magazine on HIV/AIDS and other SRH magazine on HIV/AIDS and other SRH issues called FAMNETissues called FAMNET

FUTURE PLANSFUTURE PLANS

To consolidate the gains made and To consolidate the gains made and expand to other parts of the country and expand to other parts of the country and new emerging areas like malaria, TB and new emerging areas like malaria, TB and maternal health.maternal health.

ENDENDTHANK YOUTHANK YOU