FLAS/[HOPE] HIV AIDS prevention project

The People-to People Health Foundation (HOPE) will receive a grant to assist the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS) in implementing the project. The grant is a follow-on to a grant provided to HOPE under the HIV/AIDS Prevention in Africa (HAPA) Program (6980474). AIDS counseling will be improved in four ways. (1) In conjunction with Swaziland"s National AIDS Program, HOPE/FLAS will develop a supervision, support, and referral system for AIDS counselors. All trained AIDS counselors (60 to date) will receive regular supervision either through one-on-one visits or attendance at regional support groups. To strengthen linkages between counselors and physicians, FLAS will give the Swaziland Medical and Dental Association a list of AIDS counselors, and will set up a system by which counselors can refer HIV/AIDS cases to specific physicians. (2) The network of AIDS counselors will be improved and expanded. HOPE will assist FLAS in upgrading its counselor training curriculum, as well as in training 20 new counselors and in providing intermediate and advanced training to 50 and 25 counselors respectively. HOPE and FLAS will also examine the possibility of establishing a one-day-a-week clinic and an AIDS Counseling Internship Program at Raleigh Fitkin Hospital. (3) An AIDS testing and counseling program will be established at FLAS"s three clinics, possibly using FLAS volunteers as counselors. (4) A telephone helpline will be established at FLAS"s Manzini clinic and staffed by at least 12 trained operators, possibly FLAS volunteers. Several educational initiatives will be undertaken. (1) In conjunction with employer-based family planning activities being conducted under project 6450228, HOPE/FLAS will establish self- supporting AIDS prevention program in at least five large companies. FLAS will train trainers within the companies who will in turn train peer educators who will in their turn educate their co-workers. The AIDSCOM project (9365972) will provide TA for this effort. (2) Media campaigns, including the use of soap operas, talk shows, and short media spots will be launched. Poster, song, and mini-drama competitions will also be used as vehicles for AIDS prevention and education. AIDSCOM will also assist in this effort. (3) AIDS booklets printed by the "Sebenta" adult literacy program will be updated and 100 Sebenta instructors will be trained to use the updated booklets in a new course on AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Finally, FLAS will develop a plan to supervise Field Officers from the Traditional Healer Organization (THO) who have already been trained under the prior grant. The feasibility of training additional healers will be explored.