PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH INPUTS

DIRECTORATE: HIV/AIDS and STDS

LIFE SKILLS PROGRAMME

Life Skills Programme in Secondary Schools

The secondary school life skills programme was initiated in 197/8 with the Training of master trainers and targeting 2 teachers per secondary school countrywide. Five of the provinces were facilitated through an ‘agency model’ that involved the appointment of a tenderer (Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Northern Province, Mpumalanga), with the remaining 4 opting for the Business Plan Model (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Western Cape).

This amounts to 840 Master Trainers and 9034 teachers trained. Some resource material was purchased to support the teacher in the implementation of the plan. This initial project was funded through European Union Funding and facilitated through the National Department of Health.

The initiative included the development of a draft learning programme framework document for learners from Grade 8 – 12. A document reflecting the characteristics of an effective curriculum was developed as well as guidelines for effective implementation.

The initiative included a baseline survey of learners’ information and knowledge as well as 4 provincial case studies. A number of other relevant Provincial reports have been formulated with regard to the training of Master Trainers and Teachers.

Due to a number of reasons, it has been difficult to ensure the sustainability of the programme and it’s implementation to the learner. Some of these relate to the redeployment and/or retrenchment of guidance teachers as well as a lack of a dedicated budget to support the programme within the Department of Education (DOE). A further area of concern is the lack of time for the district staff and master trainers to dedicate to the programme due to competing priorities.

It should be noted that the secondary school life skills project was initiated simultaneously to a rigorous restructuring process in the country.

A National Survey is currently underway to assess the level of implementation of the life skills programme in the secondary school. This is being funded through USAID South Africa. It is envisaged that the survey will assist the DOE in current and future activity planning related to the programme implementation.

The secondary school life skills programme forms an integral part of the Integrated Plan for Children Infected and Affected by HIV/AIDS. As with the Primary school programme it is envisaged that the secondary school programme will reach a 20 % implementation by the end of the 2000/001budget year. The focus is on the grade 8 and 9 learners and will target 2 teachers from each school. This focus will link and strengthen the primary school programme and as is recognised will enhance the impact of the programme over a longer period of time. Other activities for the current year include motivational workshops for principals and role players, acceleration of peer education initiatives in all provinces as well as information for the care and support of infected and affected learners. Monitoring and support of the teachers implementing the programme has also been allocated budget. This is an attempt to ensure sustaining of the programme. The DOE will be responsible for these initiatives with support from the DOH.

Other activities are to develop a comprehensive programme for the grade 8 and 9 consisting of a teachers guide and learner workbook. This will be spearheaded by the Department of Health (DOH) and will include the reproduction and distribution of the materials. The reproduction of an Adolescent Reproductive Health Care flipchart developed by Gauteng Health and Education in support of the Programme with further development of additional information on HIV/AIDS/STDs is also planned. This will be spearheaded by DOH.

Provinces will need to consider the past activities and initiatives and how they will be able to complement them.

Life Skills Programme in Primary Schools

During 1999 a primary school life skills and HIV/AIDS education programme has been developed and pilot tested in 20 schools in two provinces, the Free State and Northern Province. In the process 20 master trainers and 140 teachers have been trained. A learning programme (curriculum) that will form an integral part of Curriculum 2005, teaching and learning support material, as well as a parent’s guide have been developed.

Approximately 3,000 learners (ranging from grade 1 to 7) have been reached, as well as other role players such as education officials, community leaders, traditional leaders and healers (approximately 55), as well as parents.

A post implementation evaluation has been done on teachers and learners knowledge, skills, attitudes and values. The programme appears to have positive results, however, being a pilot project, the sample size was too small and the evaluation done too soon after the initial implementation to come to decisive conclusions especially regarding behaviour change.

A directory of available age appropriate life skills and HIV/AIDS education materials and programmes has been developed and printed and are currently being distributed to relevant role players.

The primary school life skills and HIV/AIDS education programme will form an integral part of the Integrated Plan for Children Infected and Affected by HIV/AIDS. The aim is to achieve 20% implementation by the end of 2000/2001, focussing on grades 5, 6 and 7 learners. This implies that approximately 320 Master Trainers will have to be trained who in turn will have to train 12,600 teachers to implement the programme countrywide. Teaching and learning support materials will have to be reproduced. In order to solicit the necessary support for the programme from government officials, school principals, community leaders, traditional leaders and healers, as well as school governing bodies and parents, motivational and information sharing workshops on the programme will be hosted. (This process will be spearheaded by the Department of Education while Department of Health will provide technical support).

Note:

Department of Education indicated that they will include HIV/AIDS in their training of grade 4 teachers. The DOH (Directorates Health Promotion and HIV/AIDS), DOE and professional teacher unions are strategizing to train the grades 1-3 teachers on the programme.

A national baseline study to determine primary school learners knowledge, values, attitudes and skills. (The work done during the pilot project will inform the development of a survey instrument). This will form the basis for future evaluations regarding the success (or not) of the programme. Although a proper study to determine whether any significant behaviour change occurred should only be done 4-5 years after implementation, provision has been made for interim evaluations to ensure that problems are detected early. (Although this process will be a collaborative effort, Department of Health will spearhead it).

To ensure that teachers entering the profession will have the necessary knowledge and skills to offer a life skills programme, teacher-training institutions will be targeted through a series of workshops. (This will be a collaborative effort, but Department of Health will drive the initiative).

Currently no Information, Education and Communication materials suitable for children (7-15 years of age) are available. Material focussing on this age group that could be used during School AIDS Week, Children’s Right Day, World AIDS Day, etc. will be developed (initiative of the Department of Health).

COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMME

HIV/AIDS COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

1. Objectives

The communication campaign of the Department of Health works to five main objectives. These are to:

  1. Intensify communication around HIV/AIDS (red ribbon logo, promotion of the toll-free, 24 hour AIDS Helpline, mass advertising and event management)
  2. Provide and promote communication resources (red ribbon badges, stickers, T-shirts and multilingual leaflets). The resources developed by the campaign creates a "back drop" for the targeted days and events.
  3. Promote social action (sector mobilisation, politicians, celebrities, AIDS memorial quilt, Tertiary Institution project, mural project)
  4. Build capacity amongst communicators and media workers (in-depth training for provincial role-player and radio producers)
  5. Evaluate the effects of the communication (include monitoring the AIDS Helpline, monitoring sentinel sites and case studies)

2. The guiding principles

  1. Provision of added value through negotiating discounts and free advertising from media suppliers;
  2. A focus on multilingual approaches;
  3. Promotion of the red ribbon to ensure visibility of the epidemic,
  4. A focus on prevention as well as care and support;
  5. Research and evaluation of various components;
  6. A focus on promoting key messages to youth in the 15-25 year age group;
  7. A focus on supporting action through provision of materials to all organisations active in HIV/AIDS work;

This document explains the four pronged approach focusing on the HIV/AIDS advertising:

 

a) HIV/AIDS Advertising Campaigns

Above the line advertising utilised a budget of R4.7-million in year one with a broad objective of lending urgency to the AIDS epidemic by making it more tangible through achieving ‘top of mind’ awareness in the mass media amongst the primary target audience who are youth 15-25 years, in the Living Standard Measure (LSM) 3-6 group. The LSM 3-6 category refers to individuals in the lower to middle income groups. All advertising is linked by a uniform branding which includes the red ribbon and Helpline number. Advertising messages convey information simply, clearly and effectively, working as far as possible, to a single objective.

It must be noted however, that this level of funding cannot generate a high profile campaign – funds of R18 million per annum dedicated to advertising would be a minimum to achieve higher profile, and different target audiences would have to be selected (e.g. higher economic groups, older age groups, political and economic leadership).

Media used are typically radio, popular magazines and outdoor commuter media (taxis, trains, busses). Greater emphasis will be placed on use of television in year two.

1. Red ribbon advertising

A red ribbon television advertisement was developed for World AIDS Day, and was supported by ongoing advertising on radio through a 30-second radio advertisement. Print advertisements were run in the Sunday Times, City Press and Sowetan. The television advertisement was flighted on SABC 1, 2 and 3, and radio advertising on various SABC language stations, and other youth-oriented stations.

Performance analyses of the various advertisements are as follows:

• Radio reached 8,6-million people in the target group, at a frequency of 7.8

• Print reached 2,5-million people in the target group, at a frequency of 1.6

• Television reached 2,4-million people in the target group, at a frequency of 2.8

Expenditure was R1.14-million with added value (i.e. Free advertising) totalling R451 706. Awareness of the red ribbon is high. Analysis of awareness at six sentinel sites showed awareness ranging from 40% to 94%, with high commitment to wearing the red ribbon.

2. AIDS Helpline Advertising

Promotion of the AIDS Helpline involved a series of four radio advertisements supported by print advertising in popular magazines and outdoor advertising on taxis, busses and trains. Performance analyses of the various advertisements are:

• Radio reached 4,2-million people in the target group, at a frequency of 14.2.

• Print reached 2,6-million people in the target group, at a frequency of 11.

• Outdoor reached approximately 7,8 million people at a frequency of 20.

Expenditure was R1.7-million and added value totalled R863 749. Awareness of the AIDS Helpline is high. Analysis of awareness at six sentinel sites showed awareness ranging from 40% to 86%.

Access to the AIDS Helpline is high and increasing. In January 1998 there were some 4 000 calls over one minute long. By October 1999, calls had risen to over 18 000. Measured over a period of 18-months, the rate of calls has increased by some 370%. A 50% increase in call rate was achieved in the first two months of advertising. Analysis shows that there are many callers who cannot get through, and the technology and counselling services are being upgraded to meet these needs.

3. Condom Advertising

Promotion of the condoms involved a series of four radio advertisements supported by print advertising in popular magazines and outdoor advertising on taxis, busses and trains. Requests for condoms have increased dramatically over the past year, and demand for free condoms exceeds supply. Sentinel site data indicate high levels of condom use amongst youth with last time condom use with non-resident partner ranging from 22% to 79%. Expenditure was R979 000.

AIDS Action Office

The objective of the Action Office is to facilitate and support action around AIDS by providing multilingual leaflets, posters and other materials on request. The overall expenditure is R2.7-million for the development and production of materials, and R450 000 for warehousing and distribution. Materials production is further supported by parallel tenders for caps, T-shirts, and red ribbon badges totalling R3-million. (See Annexure B for more detailed expenditure).

Core materials such as leaflets and posters are available in considerable quantities at all times, whilst utility items are only available as stocks and budget allows, and only for specified purposes. Delivery is made within 14 days.

Over the period November 1998 through to October 1999 well over 15-million items have been distributed to hundreds of organisations in a wide range of sectors countrywide. The materials ensure consistent messaging around HIV/AIDS and provide support to organisations and individuals wishing to be active in HIV/AIDS within their communities and sectors. Many organisations accessing materials serve as sub-distribution points for smaller organisations._NGO FUNDING

What percentage of the budget is dedicated to NGO Funding?

In 1999/2000 an amount of R14 million was allocated for NGO funding, approximately 13% of the total budget of R109,721,000. In 2000/01 the draft operational Plan of the Directorate: HIV/AIDS and STDs includes R20 million for NGO funding and R1.15 million for NGO capacity building and monitoring.

As the final Budget of the Directorate is not available it cannot be calculated what the percentage for NGO funding and support in relation to the total budget will be.

What mechanisms are in place to insure accountability and transparency?

Accountability:

Treasury Instructions K5 require a director’s report, an audited financial statement and an auditor’s report. The NGO funding agreement in of the Department of Health requires additional quarterly national reports. The funding agreement further stipulates that the department may be given access to all files related to the funding. General monitoring visits are made and organisational documents are assessed where problems are observed.

Poor programme management results in discontinuation of funding suspected financial mismanagement results in an investigation, which may lead to a criminal investigation.

To increase accountability, the provincial HIV/AIDS programme coordinators and their regional and district representatives have accepted responsibility for the monitoring of NGOs operating at regional, provincial, or district level. It is aimed to facilitate links between Government and NGOs at the most appropriate level.

Transparency:

Organisations applying for funding must disclose all sources of funding.

Each NGO interested in NGO funding receives a document outlining the funding priorities, the rating criteria and the rating process.

Individuals make no funding decisions. Applications are assessed and funding recommendations are prepared by an NGO funding committee, which has government and civil society representation. The Director-General approves the recommendations.

Applications for provincial NGO projects are assessed by an NGO funding committee at provincial level, approved by the provincial Head of Health and then submitted to the (national) Director-General for final approval.

The evaluation process that has been implemented to assess the effectiveness of the HIV/AIDS Directorate (in as far as NGO funding is concerned)

Funded NGOs are monitored at the level at which they operate. This means that national NGOs are monitored by the National Directorate: HIV/AIDS and STDs whilst NGOs operating only at provincial or local level are monitored by a government official operating at that level.

There are some capacity limits at national level and provincial NGO coordinators do not receive sufficient support. To overcome the capacity problem three contract-positions for the NGO sub-directorate have been advertised. It is expected that the positions will be filled by April/May 2000.

To insure a minimum level of evaluation the Directorate insists on a motivation letter from the provincial government official entrusted with monitoring before any funding agreement is extended.

In order to evaluate the NGO sub-directorate, discussions have taken place with the Internal Audit Unit of the Department of Health. The Internal Audit Unit has agreed to assess the sub-directorate, but the internal audit has not yet commenced.

Whilst this request for an internal audit is pending, the Auditor-General has started with an audit of the Directorate: HIV/AIDS and STDs with specific focus on NGO funding. The Directorate welcomes this external audit and fully supports its process.

CONDOM DISTRIBUTION

The number of condoms (male and female) distributed in 1999 and targeted for 2000/01 (by province)

These distributions were made by national office HIV/AIDS for the provinces.

Specific procedures used to distribute condoms (male and female)

Provinces are expected to submit a request for condoms to the national Directorate: HIV/AIDS on a monthly basis. The request specifies as many different delivery addresses as required. Requests must reach the national office at least three months ahead of time and the national office place orders without delay. If this process is followed the suppliers deliver monthly to all the specified addresses.

Has an evaluation of the programme been done – indicate any outcomes?

At national level during the 1996/7 financial year an information system was non-existent and there was no monitoring capacity.

Since April 1997, distribution quantities, delivery dates and delivery deadlines are monitored. Steps are taken where problems are experienced.

The Northern Province is satisfied with their level of monitoring. It includes keeping records of distribution volumes, spot-checks at clinics, and ongoing discussion at meetings.

All other provinces rate their monitoring capacity between low and non-existing. The Northern Cape, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have no provincial monitoring system at all. The Free State keeps records about condoms provided to regions. Mpumalanga and Gauteng monitor condom distribution per district. In the Western Cape the Family Planning section keeps detailed records.

The North West, Mpumalanga, Northern Province and Gauteng report having taken some action based on their information system such as better planning, training, workshops and improved communication. Gauteng also does monthly telephonic follow-ups with all the districts.

At this stage monitoring is focused on quantities. Between May and November 1996 data on sector involvement were collected in Gauteng, but due to lack of capacity to analyse them this was stopped.

Is there a clear policy on condoms and guidelines in place?

A national condom or barrier methods policy does not exist. The running of affairs is based on multiple discussion, reflected for the most in records of various meetings. The lack of policy in combination with the high rate of staff turnover have in the past seriously inhibited the capacity of the national Directorate to deliver.

Gauteng and Northern Province have a dedicated Aids policy. Both provinces use their policy in training and monitoring.

Like the national Directorate, provinces without policies take their guideline from general regulations, general plans and from discussions taken at meetings. The Eastern Cape expects policy guidelines from the national level. Mpumalanga is engaging a consultant who should help develop their policy on distribution systems and quality control.

COUNSELLING, CARE AND SUPPORT

The following guidelines were presented to a MinMEC meeting held in February 2000. The meeting approved the guidelines in principle. The Ministers were to review the guidelines and forward their comments to the HIV/AIDS Directorate for inclusion in the document. No comments were received from Ministers and the document was resubmitted to the Director HIV/AIDS for further handling.

HIV/AIDS paediatric care

The HIV/AIDS Clinicians Society has been tasked to assist the Directorate to develop the guidelines. The clinicians will submit the draft document to the HIV/AIDS Directorate on 13 March 2000 in preparation for a presentation of the document to MinMEC on 18 March 2000.

HIV/AIDS home care and palliative care

The policy consultant initially contracted by the HIV/AIDS Directorate developed draft home care guidelines. The document was condensed and submitted to Director HIV/AIDS for comments and review.

Adult Palliative Care guidelines

The Hospice Association of Southern Africa was awarded a tender to develop and test adult palliative care guidelines. The development and testing of the guidelines centred around standards of care based on the draft palliative care guidelines that were developed by the policy consultant. The standards of care together with the testing tool will be forwarded to the Department by 10 March 2000.

Paediatric Palliative Care guidelines

Cotlands Baby Sanctuary was awarded a tender to develop paediatric palliative care guidelines. A draft document was submitted to the Directorate HIV/AIDS and STDs in December 1999. The document was reviewed and comments sent back to the organisation for inclusion in their final draft document. A presentation to the Department of the final draft paediatric palliative care guidelines is scheduled for 13 March 2000.

TB/HIV

TB treatment of HIV positive persons is addressed in the current TB treatment guidelines. The TB/HIV pilot districts are investigating the use of TB preventive therapies in HIV positive persons. Based on the outcomes from the pilot sites, prophylactic treatment of TB in HIV positive patients might be included in the guidelines.

Management of occupational acquired HIV exposure

These guidelines have been approved. The document is currently with the printer for design, layout and printing. Once printed, distribution will be made to provinces.

Counselling services:

The counselling and testing services provided in hospitals and clinics are very limited. Most of the counselling and testing services provided are for diagnostic purposes. Currently there is a limited access to voluntary counselling and testing by the general public. The Directorate has prioritised the provision of counselling and testing services for the general public. The strategy that has been developed include the following:

Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) strategy

The aim of the plan is to increase access to voluntary counselling and testing to 12.5% adult population aged 15-49 years within three years. A specific target of the VCT is the youth and rural communities.

Part of the project will be to train teachers as counsellors and to promote counselling through community mobilisation.

As the programme aims to reach 12.5% of the adult population within three years, during the first year it aim to test 2.5% of the adult population, 5% in the 2nd year and 5% in the 3rd year.

It is envisaged that by the third year 100% of the health districts will have VCT services in all health facility. One important component of the VCT implementation plan is to establish non-medical testing sites. These will be community -based centres and they will include youth centres.

In fast tracking the implementation each province will employ one counselling co-ordinator and a finance/ admin person.

The VCT implementation will involve:

Costing:

Cost

Training cost

Testing cost

Management cost

Total cost

Year one

R11 431 266

R6 138 563(5%)

R2 650 000

R20 219 829

Year two

R11 431 266

R11 946 459(10%

R2 490 000

R25 867 725

Year three

R11 431 266

R11 946 459(10%

R2 490 000

R25 867 725

 

Total: R71 955 282 (3years)

Minimum standard for the counsellor training, training of counsellor trainers and mentors

Minimum standards were developed during the financial year 1998/99. The cost of developing these minimum standards was R603 058.

The process involved national and provincial consultative workshops, workgroup meetings as well as task team meetings.

Training strategy:

The above mentioned Voluntary counselling and testing strategy has incorporated the plans to train counsellors, counsellor trainers, counsellor mentors and the laboratory staff. Please refer to the above page. Previously there was no allocation for the counsellor training in the Directorate budget.

Expenditure for counselling services:

To enhance HIV/AIDS counselling service delivery in South Africa, an R18 million was made available in 1996/7 financial year to employ 270 lay counsellors, 30 per province. Each province was allocated R2 million rand. Amongst others, it involves the training of these employed lay counsellors. The project aims to provide counselling services specifically around HIV testing an area that has been a problem for many years.

Of the money allocated five provinces were able to implement the project. With regard to the other four the status is as follows:

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Outline steps to ensure community involvement in HIV/AIDS

The Directorate: HIV/AIDS and STDs facilitates the training of various sectors with the aim of capacity building in the sectors. The aim is to support and strengthen the multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS. With an estimated current national antenatal prevalence rate of 22,8% the support of political, government, and community leaders is critical To the implementation of an effective HIV/AIDS and STD campaign. In July 1997 the importance of gaining inter-sectoral commitment and support to the HIV epidemic was highlighted as a key recommendation in in the National HIV/AIDS and STD Review.

Since this Review there has been considerable activity in relation to securing a broad response to the HIV epidemic: a Governmental AIDS Action Programme (GAAP) was established in 1998 and this included the development of Inter-Ministerial and Inter-Departmental AIDS Committees. During Deputy President Thabo Mbeki’s historic televised public address to the nation on the 9th October 1999, a number of different sectors (such as the business sector, the trade union movement and religious bodies) have taken up the challenge and pledged their support to the government’s initiative.

This translated into an increasing demand being placed on the Department of Health HIV/AIDS and STD Directorate to offer technical expertise and hands-on capacity assistance to a variety of role players – both at a departmental and sectoral level. The POLICY Project, in collaboration with both the National AIDS Unit in Pretoria and USAID (South Africa) developed a number of focus areas for the year. These were diverse and reflected the variety of sectors, government departments and communities that requested technical assistance and capacity building. These focus areas included:

See Annexure C for more details.

What actions are envisaged to ensure that discrimination is reduced in relation to HIV/AIDS in:

  1. Workplace in terms of access to employment and employee benefits

1. The DOH has been working closely with the Department of Labour in creating a regulatory framework that protects people with HIV/AIDS in the workplace. This has resulted in:

2. The future plans are to:

  1. Access to life and health insurance

1. The DOH has passed the Medical Schemes Act which has ensured that People Living with HIV and AIDS have access to health insurance.

2. Future plans:

It is planned to meet with the life assurance industry to discuss:

  1. Access to medical scheme benefits

See above notes on the workplace.

d) Access to provincial health services

1. The DOH has recently:

    1. finalised the Patients Rights Charter which sets out a patient’s rights and responsibilities, and
    2. completed treatment protocols.

2. Future plans are to:

    1. assist with the popularising of the treatment protocols; and
    2. adopt and publish the treatment protocols.

STD MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL

What training has occurred with regard to the control of STDs?

In 1996, the Department introduced the Syndromic Approach to STD Management as national policy. From 1996-1998, both the National HIV/AIDS & STD Directorate and also the then National STD Reference Centre at the South African Institute conducted an intensive training programme for Medical Research.

A departmental pamphlet explaining the Syndromic Approach to STD Management is attached (Annexure D)

The foci of the departmental training programme on the syndromic approach during that time were:

The departmental STD training programme was evaluated in 1998 (report attached as Annexure E).

Since 1999, the Department has shifted to a ‘training of trainers’ model whereby provincial ‘trainers’ are given more intensive training on STD management and appropriate training methods and materials. The so-called ‘trainers’ are staff whose main responsibility is the in-service training of primary health care workers. In several provinces, some difficulty has been experienced in identifying such staff. The department has developed a specific training manual for this purpose.

In 1999/2000, the department employed two trainers to facilitate the STD training of trainers programme. Training has been conducted in the following centres:

Have the policy guidelines been implemented? Identify problems with service delivery

In general terms, the syndromic approach has been adopted to a very high level in public sector primary health care services. This cannot be said for the private sector where the quality of care for STDs remains poor.

While implementation of the syndromic approach has been achieved rapidly, there remain concerns about the quality of STD care particularly relating to stock-outs of drugs and condoms, judgmental staff attitudes and abusive behaviour by staff.

A number of assessments have been made with regard to the implementation of Syndromic STD Management. These include the following:

Key findings:

Key findings:

Key findings:

The National STD Initiative has been using the DISCA tool to assess quality of care in the four sites

Provide details of the expenditure for STD management and control

Integrated into budget (see Annexure A).

Annexure C

Core Focus Area: National Government Departments

The interdepartmental committee (IDC) is potentially one of the strongest vehicles in South Africa to drive the multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS, for they are responsible for both planning and implementation. Meeting under the auspices of the National Department of Health, this committee consists of representatives from the various National Government Departments. POLICY has supported this committee since 1997. As new additional representatives are included into this committee, they have, in conjunction with the National AIDS Unit, requested capacity building and support.

Enhancing HIV/AIDS Advocacy Skills for National Government Departments: "Getting your Message Across:"

Perfected Presentations; Fabulous Facilitation and Tremendous Training"

Objectives:

Enhancing HIV/AIDS Advocacy Skills for National Government

Departments in South Africa: "Towards Action and Answers"

Objectives:

National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

Objectives:

National Department of Agriculture:

Objectives:

Provincial Department of Agriculture (North West Province)

Objectives:

National Department of Welfare

Objectives:

National Office of the Presidency:

To enable senior management to understand the following issues:

Core Focus Area: Developmental Non – Governmental Organisations

In an attempt to make a reality of the statement that HIV/AIDS is not an exclusive health issue, the National AIDS Unit – through the POLICY Project - began working with development NGOs in February 1999. The emphasis was security placed on grassroots organisations that do not have HIV/AIDS as their core area of work – but that are focusing on the developmental roots of this epidemic. Provinces were grouped into six areas and the first round of training began earlier this year. So Great was both the response to this initiative, a follow-up capacity building element was arranged (November – December 1999).

HIV/AIDS and You: "Exploring the Connection, the Impact and Your Priorities"

Objectives:

HIV/AIDS and You: Part II: "Actions and Plans for Change"

Objectives:

 

Core Focus Area:

AIDS Training, Information and Counselling Centres (ATICCs)

 

For many years ATICCs have been perfectly placed within the provinces to deliver a number of training and counselling roles. But with the multi-sectoral approach towards managing this epidemic, they have been forced to evaluate their services. At the ATICC Managers meeting three capacity building areas were identified. These were: 1) Strategic Planning Skills Development; 2) Advocacy Skills Development and

3) Monitoring and Evaluation Skills. In agreement with the National AIDS Unit POLICY was requested to address these capacity building elements.

 

Enhancing Advocacy Skills for ATICC Programmes in South Africa:

Strategic Planning Skills Development: Episode 1

"ZIP, ZAP and ZOPP!"

 

Objectives:

 

Enhancing HIV/AIDS Advocacy Skills for ATICC Programme in South Africa: Episode 2: "Towards Action and Answers"

 

Objectives:

Enhancing HIV/AIDS Advocacy Skills for ATICCs in South Africa: Part III: "Are we on the right path?" Monitoring and evaluation of our programmes

Objectives:

Core Focus Area: Local Government

Following the development of an HIV/AIDS Toolkit for the involvement of local government in the partnership programme against HIV/AIDS, it was decided to pilot test this toolkit in KwaZulu-Natal, the province bearing the brunt of the epidemic in South Africa. Initially only one pilot was planned, but because of the overwhelming response by councillors, mayors and officials, it became necessary to conduct another pilot workshop.

HIV/AIDS and Local Government:"

Exploring the Connection; Understanding the Impact and Setting your Priorities.

Objectives:

"HIV/AIDS and Local Government:"

Exploring the Connection, Understanding the Impact and Setting your Priorities.

Objectives:

Core Focus Area: Trade Unions

It is an undisputed fact that the involvement of organised labour is an integral part of a strong and cohesive multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS. Flowing from the involvement of the Trade Union movement in the national HIV/AIDS Partnership Programme, the National AIDS Unit – in consultation with the various unions – identified a number of capacity needs.

Enhancing HIV/AIDS Advocacy Skills for the Trade Union Sector:

"Towards Involvement and Action"

Objectives:

The specific objective of the workshop will be to increase the skills of the participants to do effective advocacy for HIV/AIDS issues by providing participants with a thorough understanding of key steps in strengthening a sectoral response and meeting the challenges they have set for themselves, including identifying key policy issues, specifying target audiences, and developing and disseminating issue-relevant messages.

HIV/AIDS and You:

"Exploring the Connection, the Impact and the Priorities within the Civil Military Alliance Trade Union Sector"

Objectives:

National HIV/AIDS/STD Directorate

Objectives:

Task team in support of the Department of Health

Core Focus Area: National and Provincial

Advocacy Networks

POLICY’s initial involvement in South Africa with the HIV/AIDS Directorate began in August 1997 when a National Advocacy Skills workshop was held. This was aimed at selected provincial governments and NGO representatives. To support the advocacy taskforces that were formed in the majority of the provinces, POLICY has continued to support this initial group by providing technical assistance.

In December 1997 a follow-up workshop was held in Cape Town. This workshop followed on the recommendations made at the initial workshop for support with networking, presentations and sustainability issues. In November 1998 this group was made familiar with the national HIV/AIDS consensus document in a workshop entitled "Enhancing Advocacy Skills for effective HIV/AIDS programmes in South Africa": Making the Facts Work for You. At this workshop the various provincial networks set themselves advocacy goals for 1999. Because of differing provincial HIV/AIDS advocacy issues, it was necessary to allow these provincial networks to put their advocacy skills to the test. POLICY, in conjunction with the National AIDS Unit, encouraged provincial networks to conduct province specific advocacy strategies.

Funding and limited technical assistance was made available to provincial advocacy networks so that they could implement their province specific advocacy activities.

The broad objective was to ensure that there was a continuation of advocacy activities within the province, while not prescribing as to the exact nature of these activities.

Core Focus Area: The National Civil Military Alliance

The South African Civil Military Alliance (SACMA) to combat HIV/AIDS was launched on 19 November 1997. In February 1998 a workshop (at which POLICY made a presentation) was held in Gauteng with National and Provincial representation from Military, Health, Welfare and the Defence Force. The aim of the workshop was to find common ground between the Civil and Military Societies, and to create and develop a functional interface between them.

SACMA is an alliance between the Department of Health, the Department of Welfare, the AIDS Law Project and the South African National Defence Force. SACMA is affiliated to the South-East African Civil Military Alliance, which functions under the flag of the United Nations, and South Africa has a chair on the regional executive. SACMA functions on the basis of consensus and aims to initiate and coordinate projects without a political agenda or domination by one specific state department. SACMA operates within the mandate of different state departments. SACMA operates within the mandate of different state departments and will co-opt members or organisations as required to facilitate projects to combat HIV/AIDS. SACMA exists to bring together all parties in the Civil Military Interface by means of effective co-ordination, facilitation, liaison, integration and research to effectively reduce the personal and social impact of HIV/AIDS on the military, para-military and civilian communities. At their previous national workshop SACMA identified AIDS advocacy skills as a capacity need. POLICY, in collaboration with the National AIDS Unit will assist SACMA to develop a provincial strategy.

Enhancing HIV/AIDS Advocacy Skills for the National Civil Military Alliance: "Advocacy, HIV and You"

Objectives: