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Country Profiles |
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Program Helps Communities in Transport Corridor
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MARCH 2007 — W, a truck driver for 15 years based in Kapiri-Mposhi, Zambia, used to drink heavily and had many sexual partners — particularly in border towns. But after Corridors of Hope (COH) staff visited his trucking company in 2005 and introduced him to the program, he decided to attend one of its centers to learn his HIV status (negative) and become better informed about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Since participating in the FHI-supported program, he has stopped drinking and greatly reduced his sexual activity. In February, Zambia's minister of health and the US ambassador to Zambia officially launched Corridors of Hope II, which began in October. COH II builds on the success of COH I and is scheduled to run through September 2009. The $11 million program is funded by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through USAID and is expected to contribute to PEPFAR's goals in Zambia, which include averting 398,500 new HIV infections by 2010, putting 120,000 on ARVs by 2010, and providing 600,000 with care and support services by 2008. COH II will be implemented in seven communities. Research Triangle Institute is the prime partner and FHI is providing technical management. The Zambia Interfaith Networking Group on HIV/AIDS (ZINGO), ZHECT, and Afya Mzuri are the primary implementing partners; they will work closely with local organizations.
The project will increase comprehensive HIV/AIDS behavior change and other prevention services to the targeted groups; link them to both care and treatment, and education and economic enhancement services; and engage corridor communities, their leaders, and local organizations in the design, implementation, and evaluation of program activities, thereby building local ownership and capacity, and project sustainability. COH II centers will provide HIV counseling and testing services, STI diagnosis and treatment, and outreach services to the general population and groups most at risk of HIV infection. In addition, the centers will refer clients to antiretroviral therapy and other care. Domestic and sexual violence services as well as opportunities for income generation (particularly for sex workers seeking alternative employment) will also be provided. First-Year Targets Set COH II's first-year targets include establishing four counseling and testing sites and providing test results to 12,000; providing other prevention services to 160,000 who are most at risk of infection; reaching 140,000 with abstinence and fidelity programs; and linking clients with services not provided by the program, including referring 95 percent of HIV-positive clients elsewhere for further testing, care and treatment. Program officials say they will apply some of the important lessons learned during COH:
The program has already helped transform the lives of many in the targeted communities such as V, a mother of four and sex worker for more than 20 years. She has reduced her clientele and used condoms consistently since joining the program. "I would have died if the program had not been there. I hope they will not abandon us." PHOTOS: (top) Community members celebrate the launch of COH II in February 2007 (photo by Bernard Gani); (above & home page thumbnail) Peer educators gathered in Kapiri Mposhi to prepare outreach activities in February 2006 (photo by Leslie Long). |
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COH II will target broader populations than COH I, reflecting the epidemic's breadth and program officials' view that the initiative would be more effective if it expanded beyond sex workers and truck drivers. The program will target residents of corridor and border communities, including groups at greatest risk of infection; victims of sexual violence; discordant sexual partners (where one is infected with a sexually transmitted infection, such as HIV, and the other is not); and mobile populations, including long-distance truck drivers, uniformed services personnel, and customs officials.