Integration of HIV/AIDS activities with food and nutrition support in ...

Integrated Programme Strategy 1:
Incorporation into a general food distribution programme
of activities designed to promote community engagement
and action around HIV/AIDS prevention
Managing a general food distribution programme requires continuous
communication with the community.
GFD programme staff and local leaders must talk with beneficiary refugee communities
about the food to be distributed (pre-distribution sensitization) and food already received
(on-site or post-distribution monitoring), and identify and resolve problems that arise
during distribution. These forums can be used to promote community engagement and
action around HIV/AIDS prevention. Community action may take place during food
distribution or at other times. The activity should be pilot-tested to evaluate the extent
to which the desired effects are achieved and retained before being scaled up.
What does this integrated programme strategy aim to achieve?
Interactions between programme staff, local leaders and refugee community members
during food distribution are used as opportunities to generate public dialogue about HIV/
AIDS. Typically in refugee communities, community leaders or food distribution committees
conduct pre-distribution sensitization, distribution supervision and post-distribution monitoring.
Strategy 1 uses these interactions to generate participatory discussions among community
members, community leaders and external agencies about HIV/AIDS. These discussions can
focus on issues related to the food distribution, such as access to food aid by vulnerable groups
(including households headed by the chronically ill), the role of food in illness, and safe storage
and palatable preparation of commodities in the ration. In many refugee communities, low
levels of knowledge and stigma prevent such discussions from taking place. These discussions
can reduce discrimination against PLWHA by promoting a more accurate understanding of the
illness.
This community dialogue is used as a basis for developing a community plan of action
to address HIV/AIDS, and to link that plan of action to local initiatives. Community
engagement and action around HIV/AIDS means that community members themselves feel
that HIV/AIDS is an important problem (they “own” the problem), and have identified key
strategies for addressing it. Community development staff should then facilitate the application
of those strategies to community-driven programmes. Community groups may present
drama, puppet shows, music or dance for crowds gathered at the site, preferably combined with
group discussion (Photo 1). It is vital that this does not hamper implementation of the food
distribution programme. The distribution of condoms, HIV/AIDS newsletters or educational
materials during the GFD may also be considered, depending on local factors such as cultural
acceptance.
How would this integrated programme strategy be implemented?
Institutional collaboration and coordination. A multisectoral and broad participatory HIV/
AIDS committee should be established to promote dialogue and coordination in all decisions
regarding HIV/AIDS policies and programmes for the refugees. A representative of the food
management committee (or relevant local leaders overseeing the GFD) should participate in
the HIV/AIDS committee (see Figure 5). The food management committee, which should
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