WORLD AIDS DAY PRESENTATION OF FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION’S (FHF) HIV/AIDS ACTIVITIES IN GHANA VENUE: GIMPA DISTANCE LEARNING CENTER AT GREENHILL, ACHIMOTA. DATE: 29 TH NOVEMBER 2005 BY: MRS JANE MANSA OKRAH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FHF, AND MR. RANSFORD BLANKSON PROGRAMME COORDINATOR, FHF

OUTLINE  INTRODUCTION – GHANA  BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT FHF  OBJECTIVES  FHF’S MAIN ACTIVITIES IN RELATIONS TO HIV/AIDS

INTRODUCTION - GHANA  Ghana is an Anglophone country in West Africa  Population of 18,290,568 with females constituting 50.5% of the total population  National population growth rate is 2.6%  Ghana has a very youthful population with 40.8% of the population being under 15years old.

PROJECT AREAS  FHF currently operates in two regions of the country, the Greater Accra and the Central Region of Ghana. Greater Accra Region  Tema Municipality, Communities, one & two, Tema New Town, Ashaiman and Agbogbloshie in the Ashiedu Keteke District of the Accra Metropolis. Central Region  Mankessim

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT FHF  In Ghana, population of young persons between 10 to 19 years has increased from 20% in 1993 to 30% in 2000 (source: 2000 Ghana Population and Housing Census)  High increase in rate of early childbearing, high rate of single parenthood, poverty, child labour, lack of parental supervision often leading to consequences such as too early and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and recently HIV/AIDS  FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION (FHF) was established in 2000 to contribute in addressing the above.

OBJECTIVES  Promote spiritual, mental, physical social health and development of young people and their families in FHF project communities within the country.  Increase access of target groups to information, education, and services on Sexual Reproductive Health and Primary Health care including Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/AIDS, Teenage pregnancy, Family Planning, Drug abuse, Child labour, personal hygiene, good nutrition, prevention of malaria, etc.  Equip them with knowledge and skills that will enable them develop positive attitudes towards their own sexual health and that of their peers.

OBJECTIVES CONTINUED  Equip parents, guardians and relevant societal groups with knowledge and skills on positive parenting, Sexual Reproductive Health including HIV/AIDS, Family Planning/Population issues, laws affecting women and children, harmful tradition practices and poverty alleviation.  Provide capacity building to organization, NGOs and MDAs in relevant Sexual Reproductive Health matters, project/programme development, Research, Monitoring/Evaluation, Advocacy, etc.  Influence policy through advocacy, sensitization, collaboration and networking.

IN SCHOOL PROJECT IN SCHOOL PROJECT  Capacity Building Peer Educators- Peers are trained to teach their peers Peer Educators- Peers are trained to teach their peers Patrons/ Teachers- They act as mentors Patrons/ Teachers- They act as mentors Parents- Involving PTA members in educating and communicating HIV/AIDS issues with their wards Parents- Involving PTA members in educating and communicating HIV/AIDS issues with their wards  Frequent involvement of Head teachers For schools to own the project For schools to own the project

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY  Mainly Peer Education  Sessional Meetings  Club Meetings  PTA interactions

LESSONS LEARNT  Involving all stake holders, students, teachers, headmasters, parents and community members is helpful in ensuring success of the project.  Primary school pupils are more interested in the project than Senior Secondary School students.

SUCCESS  Have educated and counseled about 50,000 young persons on Sexual Reproductive Health issues particularly the prevention of HIV/AIDS.  Have trained 400 Peer Educators and Counsellors.  Have established HIV/AIDS programmes in 40 schools in Ashaiman and Tema.

SUCCESS CONT’D  Some young persons who previously were engaged in premarital sexual relations have now stopped completely  Young persons in target schools and communities have become role models in the project areas.  Incidence of HIV/AIDS and other sexual related conditions have reduced in the target schools.

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

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

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES  Life Planning Skills (LPS)  Drama  Film shows  Home visits  Group discussions Lessons Learnt  To achieve success in working with out of school youth, you should constantly supervise them.  Some income generations activities should be considered in providing them with SRH programmes.

SUCCESS  Most adolescents in the communities can now talk freely about issues relating to sex.  The target group have now become confident and assertive regarding their RH rights  The target group have become role models in their communities

CHALLENGES  Inconvenient time schedules for the LPS sections.  Issue of literacy; semi-literates who found it difficult to properly understand and assimilate simple lessons.  Irregular attendance to LPS sessions  Dwindling interest of Behaviour Change Communication promoters

VOLUNTARY COUNSELLIN AND TESTING FOR HIV/AIDS  Permanent VCT site established at Ashaiman  Mobile VCT project implemented in Agbogbloshie in the Ashiedu Keteke District

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY  Involvement of health and non health professionals as councillors and testors  Use of approved counselling protocols and guidelines  Use of quality assurance techniques  Involvement of stakeholders from the National AIDS Control programme, AIDS Commission, Ghana Health Service, department of Social welfare, other NGOs and target group.  Referral of positive cases to approved health facilities  Provision of care and support to positive cases  Services provided free of charge.

SUCCESSES  Over 4,500 persons counselled and tested within a period of two and a half years  Out of this, about 3% tested positive, in consonance with national data  VCT sites of FHF included in national VCT sites of the country  Counsellors and Testors of FHF involved in national capacity building programmes

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS  FHF has established a networking and collaborative group on HIV/AIDS and VCT in the project areas  FHF has established a bi-monthly magazine on HIV/AIDS and other SRH issues called FAMNET

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

END THANK YOU