Overview

The Health Communication Project Associate Award (HCP II AA) in Uganda, funded by USAID, builds on the foundation of the three-year Health Communication Partnership I (2004-2007) award to change individual behavior, mobilize communities, create an enabling environment for sound health practices and build capacity in health communication The project is led by CCP, in partnership with MOH, Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU), Media for Development International (MFDI), Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC), Mango Tree, Makerere University School of Public Health, AIDS Information Centre and the Regional Center for Quality Health Care. The five-year HCP II project uses proven communication approaches to address HIV prevention, AIDS care and treatment, family planning, malaria prevention and treatment and tuberculosis.

Accomplishments

• Young Empowered and Healthy (YEAH): a national communication initiative by and for 15 – 24 year olds aimed at reducing HIV, early pregnancy and school drop-outs. Produces the award-winning Rock Point 256 radio serial drama and comic books, which is the centerpiece of sequential multi-channel campaigns focused on underlying factors that affect young people’s HIV risk, including transactional sex, male gender expectations, alcohol abuse, violence against women and multiple concurrent partners.
• “Treat for Life” ART literacy and adherence communication: launched three communication interventions: a public ART literacy campaign; interventions promoting ART adherence; a campaign promoting HIV testing for children at risk of HIV.
• Family planning revitalization campaign: Focuses on promoting smaller families through family planning among married men, and address unmet need among married women.
• TB/HIV communication: Referred PLHA’s for TB screening, TB clients for HIV testing through radio, posters, and IPC.
• National “Go Together, Know Together” multi-channel campaign, promoting couple HIV counseling and testing.
• Male circumcision and HIV prevention: Public education about male circumcision and HIV, advocacy for national MC policy, and improved MC client counseling.
• National hotline: Telephone hotline provides counseling and information about male circumcision, alcohol abuse, violence against women, HIV prevention, family planning, and HIV counseling and testing.
• Radio distance learning program for Village Health Teams: a radio series, supported by interpersonal communication to update community volunteers on essential health issues and practices.
• GOLD Internship Program: One-year placements for new graduates from universities and colleges in Uganda in health communication and marketing companies and organizations.
• Malaria: communicated new treatment policy and prevention of malaria in pregnancy and prepared communities for indoor residual spraying.