Community Engagement for HIV & ADIS Prevention And Treatment Adherence In Ratodero, Ghari Yaseen, And Sejawal Junejo

Bridge Consultants Foundation Implementing Partner – UNICEF Sindh, Pakistan.

District Larkana, Pakistan. Larkana is one of the District of Sindh Province of Pakistan, located in north Sindh, administratively sub-divided into 4 tahsils Larkana Dokri Bakrani Ratodero Total population of District Larkana is1,521,786, of which 775,934 are males and 745,530 females, including 54.07% rural and 45.93% urban. The literacy rate is 53.80%: 65.33% for males and 41.89% for females..

HIV in District Larkana, Pakistan. Larkana remained under the HIV limelight since 2003 when the first outbreak occurred among People who injecting Drugs (PWIDs), in which 17 PWIDs out of 175 (9.7%) were reported confirmed HIV positive. Second outbreak in reported in 2016, among the patients who were receiving renal dialysis at the dialysis unit of a teaching hospital where 19 (95%) out of 20 dialysis patients were found to be HIV positive out of which 12 (63.1%) were males and 7 (36.8%) females..

In April 2019, 3 rd outbreak was reported in Ratodero a small town of District Larkana. 15 children aged between 2months to 8 years were confirmed HIV positive and their parents were reported HIV negative. This has triggered a series of events including mobilisation of district health administration and Sindh AIDS Control Programme. The provincial health department engaged Field Epidemiology and Training Programme (FETP) to conduct disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. A series of consultative meetings were held in Larkana and Ratodero ..

HIV screening camp was arranged at secondary care hospital in Ratodero . Initially, according to the reports upto 25 th May 2019, 23174 persons including children and adults were screened among them 681 HIV positive cases reported, of which 123 (18%) adults and 558 (82%) children . Comprehensive outbreak response plan was developed with the support of UN partners. UNICEF has supported technical and financial support for community engagements activities by engagement a National NGO “Bridge Consultants Foundation” , having expertise in HIV/AIDS, community engagements..

Objectives of Community Engagement Project. Formation of Mothers and Fathers Support Groups to Provide Psycho-social support to the HIV affected families.

Multiprong Community Engagement Activities on Advocacy, Social Mobilization and reducing Stigma and Discrimination were carried out through Trained Community Outreach workers, Engagement of Community Leaders and Health Care Providers with strong follow up of HIV positive patients for treatment adherence..

TAIB. BOSAN. %qegqeyN. Capacity Building Community Outreach Workers for Field Activities.

Provided Orientation to Local Religious Leaders on HIV/AIDS , engaged total 140 Religious Leaders for Social Mobilization Session on HIV and Stigma & Discrimination.

Provided Orientation to Community Male Leaders on HIV/AIDS , engaged total 140 Community Leaders for Social Mobilization Session on HIV and Stigma & Discrimination.

Provided Orientation to School Teachers on HIV/AIDS , engaged total 140 School Teachers for Community Mobilization Session on HIV and Stigma & Discrimination.

uc.0HlNGAh0 YAH. Provided Orientation to School Teachers on HIV/AIDS , engaged total 140 School Teachers for Community Mobilization Session on HIV and Stigma & Discrimination.

Engagement of Media Personnel on Responsible Reporting on HIV/AIDS.

Community Awareness Session on Basics of HIV/AIDS, Infection Prevention, Injection Safety and Stigma and Discrimination.

Community Awareness Session on Basics of HIV/AIDS, Infection Prevention, Injection Safety and Stigma and Discrimination.

Supportive Monitoring visits.

Supportive Monitoring visits.

Coordination meetings have also been held by UN partners including UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and others.

Community Based HIV Screening of Mothers, Fathers and Siblings of known HIV Positive Children and Pregnant Women.

Lesson Learnt: Community Based HIV Screening. Period Total HIV Screening Total Positive Positivity Rate July- Dec 2019 796 16 2.01% Jan-Dec 2020 4567 57 1.25% Oct– Dec, 2021 486 6 1.23% Total 5849 79 1.4%.

HIV Counseling Goals. updating HIV Screening data on regular basis at office Level.

Community Demand of HIV Screening for their families.

Thanks.