Roads to a Healthy Future

Overview

Roads to a Healthy Future, a four-year project funded by USAID, builds on its predecessor, the Regional Outreach for Addressing AIDS through Development Strategies (ROADS) Project. Led by Family Health International (FHI), Roads to a Healthy Future seeks to fund new approaches and support African regional partners to design and expand HIV prevention and health activities in transport communities in Kenya and Uganda. The purpose of the project is twofold: to increase access to multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS, health, and other services for mobile populations and vulnerable communities along East African transport corridors; and to increase the capacity of African regional institutions to support rapid scale up of innovative practices in HIV and health. CCP partners with African institutions to advance strategic communication in health and development. CCP also provides technical assistance in a number of health areas and support the African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development (AfriComNet).

Accomplishments

• Assisted AfriComNet and a network of 8 African universities and training institutions to design and offer five short courses in HIV/AIDS and health communication.

• Short courses are now being offered through 5 universities and are self-supported through tuition.

• Collaborated with MACRO/DHS to develop a short course on understanding and using DHS data, and trained facilitators from 6 African universities.

• AfriComNet Annual Award for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Communication established in 2007, and has recognized outstanding communication interventions during three annual award ceremonies.

• Assisted AfriComNet to organize two regional workshops for over 80 participants each from across Africa. The first workshop focused on HIV/AIDS Treatment, Care and Support Communication; the second focused on gender based violence and alcohol communication.

• Assisted AfriComNet to design a five-year strategic plan and register in Uganda; recruited more than 800 members from 40 countries; maintained and updated www.africomnet.org; produced and disseminated 3 newsletters for members.

• Conducted health communication assessment and planning exercises among transport corridor communities in Tanzania and Uganda.

• Provided technical assistance for the training of family planning providers, peer educators, and CBDs in Rwanda, Burundi, and DRC.