This project is a three-year innovative Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) programme, funded by DfID, which is tailored to meet the needs of vulnerable young people and people living with HIV/AIDS in pastoralist communities.
It particularly supports adolescents (10-24 year-olds), commercial sex workers, and people living with HIV/AIDS to understand their SRH rights and help prevent HIV/AIDS and create an environment which is free from stigmatisation and discrimination.
Tailored education campaigns on HIV/AIDS, family planning, and other reproductive health issues have resulted in a boost in the demand for services within the communities and more people being tested for HIV.
AMREF supports communites to set up Youth clubs within villages and in schools, raising awareness on youth SRH rights, HIV/AIDS and harmful traditional practises through discussions and youth activities.
Objectives of the project
The project aims to reach 96,300 adolescents’ between10-24 years of age, 800 commercial sex workers and 5,000 people living with HIV/AIDS across South Omo, Ethiopia.
Challenges facing the community
There is a high discrimination of HIV among the nomadic communities. People are often isolated from their community if they revealed that they are HIV positive. People often lived in denial and do not seek treatment.
Achievements so far within the project
- Local councils involved have pledged to provide support to HIV/AIDS associations, and provided offices for them to run their associations free of charge.
- Associations have established the first People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) coalition, and have started to engage at government level on PLHA issues. They have begun attending forum invited by the government.
- The success of the association is expected to be replicated by other PLWHA associations.
Find out more about AMREF's work fighting HIV/AIDS