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

HIV/AIDS prevention programmes must ultimately derive their support and momentum
from the refugee communities themselves, who may bring numerous skills to AIDS
prevention efforts. Food and related resources can be considered to support workshops
and training for these people, to more effectively engage them in the effort.
What does this integrated programme strategy aim to achieve?
Food and related resources can be used to support workshops and training for community
groups including religious leaders, traditional healers and birth attendants, youth and
artists. Religious leaders can encourage abstinence and monogamy and, if they are willing, condom
use; traditional healers can discourage or modify high-risk traditional practices; traditional
birth attendants can educate pregnant women and their partners on mother-to-child transmission
of HIV; young people can provide peer counselling; and those with creative talents can
conduct drama, music and dance events to engage communities in dialogue about HIV/AIDS.
How would this integrated programme strategy be implemented?
Institutional collaboration and coordination. Food programme staff should collaborate with
members of the HIV/AIDS committee and community leaders to identify key resource persons
to be trained. Food programme staff can coordinate the provision of food.
Demonstration of proper condom use techniques by AAH community counselling aides,
Kyangwali Settlement, Uganda
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Integrated Programme Strategy 18:
Support for training and other capacity-building activities
for community resource persons who can play a vital role
in HIV/AIDS prevention efforts
E. Mathys Kirkcaldy