Developng a HIV related stigma, denial and discrimination reduction intervention for Mbita Subcounty-Homa Bay county

Abstract

DEVELOPNG A HIV RELATED STIGMA, DENIAL AND DISCRIMINATION REDUCTION INTERVENTION FOR MBITA SUBCOUNTY-HOMA BAY COUNTY‖. The projects goal is to contribute to a reduction of HIV and AIDS prevalence in Mbita sub county, Homabay County. This will be achieved through Stigma, Denial and Discrimination (SDD) reduction. SDD reduction is expected to enhance adherence of HIV and AIDS treatment, Promote HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) and increase uptake of HIV services in Mbita. Faith communities were mobilized to achieve the project purpose as 97% of Kenyans ascribe to a faith. The project will mobilize Inter Faith Network (IFN) religious leaders to contribute to Stigma, Denial and Discrimination (SDD) reduction in Mbita Sub County where stigma was identified as a barrier to effective HIV response. The intervention used Information based approach where the Fellow and IRCK developed a localized information package. A Faith Based Messages on HIV and AIDS SDD messages booklet was developed and theologians developed religious citations. Skills building interventions was used at the Homabay IFN network where IRCK has an already established presence. Homabay IFN religious leaders were sensitized on SDD reduction within their congregations and action plans for cascading the SDD messages to their congregations developed. The project budget was Kshs 400,000 and was implemented in 3 months. In concurrence with PEPFAR strategy 3.0, the project will contribute to the 90/90/90 targets and epidemic control that requires delivering right things in the right places, right now and in the right way. 2.0 Introduction and background Homa Bay County is one of the 47 Counties of Kenya. It’s made up of eight constituencies; sub Counties namely Kasipul, Kabondo, Kasipul, Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Homa Bay Township, Mbita, Mbita and Suba. Its total population was estimated to be 1,053,465 in 2012 (County Government of Homabay, 2013) The project sought to address HIV prevalence in Mbita sub county, Homabay County through Stigma, Denial and Discrimination (SDD) reduction. This was done through mobilizing Inter Faith Network (IFN) religious leaders where they were sensitized on SDD and the SDD 2 messaging cascaded to their congregations. IRCK in consultation with theologians developed an SDD booklet that was used to train the IFN religious leaders. SDD reduction is expected to enhance adherence of HIV and AIDS treatment, Promote HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) and increase uptake of HIV services in Mbita. The project will contribute to the PEPFAR 3.0 90/90/90 targets of having 90% PLHIV know their status (tested), 90% who are tested linked to ARV’s and 90% on ARV’s are retained with undetectable viral suppression. SDD will scale up the core interventions which are —ART, PMTCT, VMMC for maximum impact on the epidemic with substantial declines in HIV incidence. PEPFAR 3.0 posits the right things as targeting children, adolescent girls and key populations to increase their access to these core interventions, strengthen children’s resilience, and decrease gender-based violence, discrimination and other barriers to HIV prevention, treatment and care…………………………………………………………………………………….