USAID SHARPER HIV PREVENTION

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It is widely accepted that at least 85% of people mostly rely on traditional healers. Indeed, traditional healers are found everywhere, unlike doctors who tend to work primarily in larger hospitals and clinics. Traditional healers are culturally accepted; because they explain illness and misfortune that are familiar to our local belief systems and are culturally appropriate to their clients.
For the treatment of HIV/AIDS, individuals consult traditional healers and prayer camps because they possess a shared socio-cultural belief and pay special attention to both physical and spiritual treatments.

  Geographic areas: Western region 3 districts (60 communities)

LRF in partnership with USAID GHANA SHARPER is providing services that will help identify new HIV/AIDS patients through collaboration with traditional healers and prayer camps.
Community outreaches conducted by LRF at the healing centres and prayer camps revealed that even though the USAID GHANA SHARPER project has trained and sensitized traditional healers on rapid referrals of seriously sick patients to the hospital, most of them believe in first addressing spiritual conditions attached to diseases.

Given this, LRF strengthened collaboration with the traditional healers and spiritual camps and the trained peer educators. Model of Hope also visited their camps to assist with HIV education, testing and counselling and referred five (5) PLHIVs for management.

During the period under review, a total number of four hundred and eighty-three (483) new PLHIVs were reached through monthly support group meetings, peer educators outreach activities, models of hope activities at the ART centres and wellness centre activities.
The total figure is made up of three hundred and sixty-one (361) males and one hundred and twenty-two (122) females. During the period, two hundred and sixty-seven (267) PLHIVs were educated on gender norms, and gender-based violence at the PLHIV support groups.

The total number of condoms sold or distributed during implementation was eight thousand five hundred sixty-eight (8568) male condoms, and three hundred and forty (340) lubricants to support project implementation.

• Paid rent for one (1) month concerning office space.
• Organized monthly PLHIV support group meetings in three (3) districts for the eleven (11) groups using ‘My positive living’ Tool Kit for the educational program.
• Organized mobile outreach HIV tests in communities and at prayer and healing camps, and tested and counselled two hundred (200) new people for PLHIV case finding.
• Organized daily wellness centre activities including educational programs on partner status disclosure activities, and positive living, to mention a few.

Organized monthly/quarterly project review sessions with staff, models of hope, peer educator and referral site officials for assessing the quality of service delivery.

Stakeholders review meeting for STMA, Jomoro and Ellembele districts.

Self-promoted or distributed five thousand (5000) condoms and one hundred and seventy (170) lubricants within the PLHIV support.

Participated in institutional and human capacity needs assessment (TOCAT) training organized by FHI360 to develop an implementation plan.

Provided HIV- related information and education to one hundred (100) new PLHIVs not enrolled in any support group.