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COORDINATOR: Mr. Bwombuna Background
The Ministry’s Aids Control Unit (ACU) was established in March 2001, after Government’s decision to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS through a multi-sectoral approach; basically to assist the NACC in implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan of 2000-2005 Achievements - Sensitization of the Top Managers in the Headquarters on HIV/AIDS basically on facts on HIV/AIDS and mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS activities into the –core functions of the Ministry. This was carried out in the Financial Year 2001/02.
- Sensitization of the senior staff at the Headquarters covering topics outlined above carried out in the Financial Year 2001/02.
- Sensitization of the Senor Field Officers (heads of departments and their deputies on HIV/AIDS carried out in the Financial Year 2002/03.
- Training of the Trainers (TOT) Workshops conducted across the country except North Eastern Province to enable the ACU to off-load the conduct of HIV/AIDS activities to the Departments (HQs.) and the field (districts) carried out in the 2003/04 Financial Year.
Training of Trainers The participants at the TOT have been trained in the following areas: - Clinical facts on HIV/AIDS
- Socio-economic and Cultural aspects of HIV/AIDS
- Mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS activities into the core functions of the Ministry.
- Vulnerability of the Ministry staff to HIV/AIDS
- Communication skills/communication for behavioural change
- Project proposal writing and management
- Report writing
- Training methodologies for adults and;
- Basic counseling skills among others.
Current challenges - Developing terms of reference
- Establish sub-ACUs in: -
Each department in the Ministry headquarters
Each district
Develop Terms of Reference for the sub- ACUs.
Activities
At the close of TOTs workshops contact persons were elected for each department (Headquarter), each district and Ruaraka.
These contact persons were instructed to constitute their respective sub-ACUs.
These sub-ACUs were requested to develop a work plan up to June 2004 but submit work plan for the 3rd quarter (January –March 2004) as follows:- Seek support and cooperation from the remaining members of the ACU.
The establishment, equipping and furnishing of the Resource Centre situated on 7th floor, to be used as a reference point, counseling and educational centre Institutional Framework
Following the just concluded TOTs workshops, it is now possible to cascade the ACU's activities, to the districts. This calls for the establishment of the following structures/institutions that will support activities both at the Ministry Headquarters and the districts.
A Ministerial AIDS Committee at the Headquarters and each district
The ACU will then need to:- - Set up institutional framework through Permanent Secretary as outlined above.
- Process proposed activities for onward transmission to NACC for funding
- Workout with NACC the modalities of financing the activities of the sub-ACUs.
- Re-look at the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan 2000-2005, with a view to recasting the Ministry's ACU operations to conform to the Plan
- Seek support and cooperation from the remaining members of the ACU.
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Programmes 
