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Educating and Empowering Vulnerable PopulationsWorld AIDS Day (WAD) events In November-December, 2005, under the CAPACITY Project/Uzbekistan technical assistance, in collaboration with local NGOs “National Health Center” and “Rural Women Support Center”, Mahalla Fund, Tashkent city and Tashkent Oblast AIDS centers, local government and other partners series of events dedicated to the World AIDS Day were conducted. Overall, 22 events were held in schools, lyceums, colleges and mahallas of Tashkent city and Tashkent Oblast. More than 1800 youth representatives and 100 mahalla activists from 16 different mahallas actively participated in these events. In November, 2006, 15 international (UNAIDS, UNDAP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNODC, WHO, CAPACITY, PSI, World Vision, AFEW, CARHAP), governmental (National AIDS Center, Women’s Committee) and non-governmental (PLH “Ishonch va Hayot”) organizations signed the Memorandum of understanding on coordination and financing of the World AIDS Day 2006 activities in Uzbekistan. The parties agreed that all activities would be considered as a Joint campaign with visibility of all involved partners regardless of their financial contribution. The following activities have been provided: social video spots and mass media campaign on TV and radio, promotion materials, advocacy roundtable with stakeholders, press-conference, the song in support of PLH, talk show, public awareness events and contest winners awarding. Community Mobilization Strategy (CMS) At the end of 2005, the CAPACITY Project developed the Community Mobilization Strategy basing on 60 Plus approach. The Project conducted seven meetings with mahalla leaders in Tashkent and Tashkent oblast in order to discuss possible ways of community involvement into HIV prevention among vulnerable population groups and their dependents. Based on information received in the result of the meetings conducted, a plan of CMS realization in Uzbekistan, including coverage of vulnerable groups (IDUs, SWs) with the essential package of HIV prevention services by means of wide involvement of communities and NGOs was developed. In June, 2006, under the support of the CAPACITY Project and Central-Asian AIDS Project (CAAP) a regional workshop “Development of proposals by community organizations working to achieve high coverage among vulnerable populations for the prevention of HIV in Central Asia” was hosted at Issyk-Kul in close cooperation with national and international stakeholders and civil society organizations. Five participants from Uzbekistan attended this workshop and took active part in preparation of grant applications/project proposals. As a result of their work, two well-designed projects were developed, that are as follows: HIV prevention activities among IDUs in Urgut rayon of Samarqand oblast and National M&E system strengthening by means of establishment of a multisectoral department of planning, analysis, reacting and coordination (PARC). The PARC Project was supported by the evaluation committee and approved by NACM for financing by CAAP. In July, 2006, under the CAPACITY Project technical support, a roundtable on discussion of the Project for Urgut rayon of Samarqand oblast was held with key partners. In the result of the meeting, the Project was supported by all partners and considered necessary for implementation. In July, 2006, the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan defined seven oblasts for CMS realization for targeting high-risk groups with HIV/STIs prevention programs: the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Kashkadarya, Navoi, Surkhandarya, Tashkent and Khorezm oblasts. In August, MoH and CAAP under technical assistance of the CAPACITY Project, in seven selected oblasts the following activities were provided: meetings with heads of local administration (khokimiyats), oblast health departments, narcology and venereology dispensaries, Mahalla Fund and NGOs with the purpose of informing them about the goals of the upcoming work meetings and plans in terms of CMS realization in the regions of Uzbekistan; work meetings with potential partners on CMS realization in Uzbekistan. The goals and objectives of the work meetings were to discuss the Community Mobilization strategy; evaluation of capacity of the government, non-government organizations and communities and motivation for their participation in CMS realization; selection of candidates for participation in the National Workshop. During the work meetings, CMS goals and objectives were identified and further CMS steps in Uzbekistan were discussed. Besides, at these meetings, the partners’ inter-sectoral cooperation was organized, Thematic Working Groups (TWG) members at OCC were selected as well as the National Workshop participants. About 180 participants attended the work meetings, including representatives of oblast AIDS centers, narcology centers, dermatology and venereology centers, oblast khokimiyats (local administration) and health care departments, oblast internal affairs departments, PLH, civil society and mass media. Moreover, the Republican AIDS Center (RAC) representatives took active part in all work meetings organized in the selected oblasts. As the next step of the Community Mobilization Strategy realization, in close partnership with MoH/RAC and CAAP, the National Workshop on project proposals development was conducted for 38 representatives of governmental organizations (oblast AIDS centers, narcology centers, dermatology and venereology centers) and non-governmental organizations (Mahalla, NGOs) of Uzbekistan. Four trainers from International HIV/AIDS Alliance/Ukraine were invited to facilitate the workshop. One of the most successful outputs of the workshop was that by the end of this event, project proposals on HIV prevention in seven oblasts and two projects on improving specialists' skills (medical students and psychologists) were developed. As the next step of the CMS realization, in close partnership with MoH/RAC and CAAP, 4-day trainings on project proposals development were provided for organizations working on HIV/STIs prevention. The main goals of the trainings were as follows:
Overall, 129 participants representing different government organizations (oblast AIDS centers, narcology centers, dermatology and venereology centers, sanitary and epidemiology departments, trust points and internal affairs departments), non-government organizations (Mahalla, NGOs) and mass media took part in the trainings. Besides, people living with HIV (PLH) were involved into the training process, so as Representatives of the Republican AIDS Center, who were present in all trainings. At the TWG meetings, 32 project proposals, developed and/or completed during the National Workshop and oblast trainings were reviewed and recommended for donors’ consideration. Interventions targeting vulnerable youth in Tashkent city: Mirabad, Mirzo Ulugbek and Yunusabad districts This activity is implemented by non-profit organization PSI. Interventions include mini-sessions on HIV prevention for youth, special events on HIV/AIDS/STI, conducted by outreach workers, and free distribution of informational leaflet and FAVORITE condoms. One of the goals of this activity is to reach high coverage of the target group, i.e. at least 60% of vulnerable youth in the selected district should be informed about HIV/AIDS. Total population of target group of vulnerable youth aged 15-24 in these districts is 134 549 (data of City Statistics Center). During the reporting period, there were covered 25,683 vulnerable youth in selected districts, which is 127% of coverage goal planned for the second year of Project. 
6,246 condoms and 23,205 brochures (HIV/AIDS Today, For Boys and For Girls) were distributed in Uzbek and Russian languages. In April-May, 2006, PSI conducted monthly event under the slogan of Tolerant attitude towards People living with HIV. As final point of event, PSI participated in the big action KVILT, which was organized by NGO Ishonch va Hayot with support UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, PSI, Red Crescent, CARHAP Program, ECCO, Republican AIDS Center, JICA/World Vision . In March. PSI conducted a huge work on reaching out a new target group, which included deaf-mute youth. In order to work with such group, 6 trainers were trained on sign language, who later conducted educational sessions and outreach work in places where deaf-mute youth was mostly gathering. In March a special event was conducted for deaf-mute youth for the first time in history of PSI/CAR, where they had edutainment games. Interventions targeting Sex Workers (SW) in two districts of Tashkent city: Chilanzar and Kuyluk Sex workers are one of most vulnerable groups exposed to HIV. On order to raise the efficiency of measures against HIV, at least 60% of SW should be covered with prevention activities. According to the estimated data, the total number of target group of SWs in selected districts of Tashkent is 5,000 people. During 2006, through prevention programs there were 1,617 SWs were covered, which was 21% of annual coverage goal. Data on training sessions and mini-sessions conducted in 2006 for SWs
Thematic Working Group (IDU) The CAPACITY Project was included into TWG on HIV prevention and treatment in IDUs, as well as other representatives of government, community and international organizations. . The TWG was established on the initiative of UNAIDS. The purpose of its creation was information and experience exchange and formation of unified vision on the existing problems and ways of their solving. |
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