Community Mobilization in HIV Vaccine Research UZ-UCSF Annual Research Day 17 April Cresta Lodge A. Tasaranarwo on behalf of UZ-UCSF CAB

What is Community Mobilisation A capacity building process through which individual groups, or organization plan to carry out and elevate activities on a participatory and sustained basis to improve the health and other needs, either on their own initiative or stimulated by others The process of using all available means and resources to inform, educate and put communities into action for a particular project or program It is important to be clear on what the community is being mobilized for, and what they are expected to do, their role in the program should be explained

Is it necessary? Community buy-in Helping the research community appreciate the challenges posed by HIV and existing gaps with current treatment and prevention options Create an appreciation for research in more HIV prevention options Create a sense of research ownership and the subsequent ownership of evidence based interventions Increase community research literacy & clear the ground for research Identify and demystify myths and misperceptions about research and HIV vaccines Provide relevant protocol information Promote high uptake of research

Anticipated Challenges HIV vaccine research a new phenomenon in Chitungwiza Myths and misconceptions General fear and scepticism The concept may prove to be complicated and difficult to understand for the layman Reaching the whole community and ensuring high levels of comprehension Finding the right volunteers Fear of injections

What is our Community Mobilization plan? Adequate CAB training and capacity building to facilitate; peer education Stakeholders’ engagement workshops (health sector, media, CBO, FBOs, NAC) Community awareness campaigns & sensitization meetings CAB composition: Health sector (including health promoters), Religious sector, youth, male focused groups, community leaders, women’s organizations, education sector Target community meetings for ongoing community education Work with health promoters and other stakeholders to distribute IEC materials & mobilize people for education meetings

What is our Community Mobilization plan? Cont.. Engage with both the electronic & print media to educate the community and disseminate new information Mobilize churches to organize activities that promote an environment for health talks that include research sensitization Establish referral systems with stakeholders whose services link with research and vise versa To continue mapping the community, to inform our mobilization strategies

What are our accomplishments so far? CAB was trained on HIV vaccines, HVTN107 protocol, media handling & communication skills and community mobilization Hosted 2 stakeholders’ workshops, at Chitungwiza Central Hospital & Rutendo hall in Mufakose Sensitized around 180 women at 2 Interdenominational Meetings in Seke and St. Mary’s Sensitized the youth at the Youth dialogue information dissemination workshop (18 February, HICC) 2 CAB members have so far attended international meetings as part of their continued training and 1 of them is a protocol team member for an upcoming protocol

What are our Expectations? Continue working closely with all stakeholders in the community Increase HIV Vaccine research literacy in the community High expectations for an HIV vaccine in the near future High turn out of participants to be screened for future studies The community to embrace HIV vaccine studies based on previous experiences with other successful vaccine programmes Increase male support through male involvement programmes We also expect uninterrupted study implementation and community capacity building

Conclusion Community mobilization has begun and it requires a concerted effort from all of us. It should not be a token but the pillar to which HIV vaccine research shall be built.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All Research Network CABs Conference Organisers Community Department Research Participants Researchers