HIV/AIDS Prevention in the Angola Military
Abstract
The April 2002 peace agreement ended the war in Angola bringing an opportunity for promoting HIV prevention; however, it also increased the threat of the spread of HIV due to greater population mobility, demobilized military, and the return of refugees from neighboring countries where the prevalence of HIV is as high as 24.0%. The rate of infection in Angola is estimated to be just 2.1% (UNAIDS, 2011.); however, conditions that exist inside the war-torn country as well as the relatively high prevalence in neighboring countries such as Namibia (13.4%), Botswana (23.4%), Zambia (12.5%), and Congo, (3.3%) place it at serious risk for an HIV/AIDS catastrophe and make HIV prevention in Angola a priority. For over a decade, Charles Drew University, in partnership with the Angolan Armed Forces (Forças Armadas Angolanas (FAA)), has taken the lead in implementing HIV prevention programs, setting up VCT centers, training medical personnel in HIV epidemiology and conducting focus groups and surveys to assess local knowledge and perceptions about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STI). Our prevention programs reach more than 40,000 Angolan military personnel each year. The overall goal of this program is to increase the capacity of the Angolan Military to prevent HIV infection among soldier and their families. As such, the program objectives are to: (1) support institutional capacity building and the development of military specific HIV strategic and operational plans that are guided by comprehensive monitoring and evaluation; (2) support the training of military personnel (activists) in the delivery of culturally and institutionally appropriate techniques for the reduction of HIV-risk behaviors, the promotion of safe sex, and the reduction of prejudice and discrimination; (3) develop voluntary counseling and testing sites throughout Angola to offer testing to military personnel and their families while providing training in VCT procedures, protocols, and information systems to keep up-to-date, confidential records of all clients visiting the centers; (4) create and support a psychosocial program addressing HIV prevention for military personnel living with HIV/AIDS providing the technical assistance (TA) necessary for the design and implementation of the program to deliver high quality services (including treatment and care) while protecting confidentiality; and (5) develop and periodically revise military HIV workplace policies that address leadership roles, gender norms, stigma and discrimination, HIV positive soldier’s rights and structural components necessary for access to care. With our extensive experience implementing HIV prevention programs across the globe, CDU has a deep roster of faculty and administrative staff to draw upon to ensure the efficient completion of the proposed work plan.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 10, 2016
- Source ID
- N002441510001
Entities
People
- Kwa Sey