Networking and Advocacy for HIV, AIDS and Housing

Eunice L. Kyomugisha

SSA:UHSNET, Kampala, Uganda

Presentation outline• About SSA: UHSNET• Key Policy Issues for HIV, AIDS and Housing

Advocacy at local, national and regional levels• Effective Strategies for Advocacy• Action Tools and resource materials for

advocacy• Benefits of networking• Challenges in networking (SSA’s experiences)

About the network• SSA:UHSNET is a network that brings together all

stakeholders in the human settlements sector to more effectively address constraints to adequate housing, especially for urban slum dwellers.

• Formally registered in 2010, the network is now comprised of 58 members including Civil Society organizations, Private institutions and professionals and Students

Summary of Key Policy Issues• There is need for comprehensive services such as health education,

HIV testing and counseling, Case management, Mental health services, and Basic health care to be provided to PLWHA within informal settlements

• There is need for poverty alleviation programmes as a prevention measure to fight the spread of HIV in informal settlements

• The is need for alternative and affordable housing options, especially in urban areas and for PLWHA.

• There is need for gender equality with regard to women’s access to land and property rights and particularly those affected by HIV &AIDS; this can be achieved through provision of legal and social services that protect the rights of PLWHA and which leads to improved health outcomes.

• There is need for legal and advocacy training programs that empower PLWHA and low income groups to protect their rights and interests. Improving women’s awareness on legal recourse to land and housing is particularly important.

Key Policy Issues for HIV, AIDS and Housing Advocacy at local, national and regional levels

Why are we concerned about HIV and AIDS and Housing?• HIV and AIDS is a development issue – MDG No. 6 • The East African region is a high HIV prevalence region. Though the

rates have reduced significantly in the last decade, the impact remains high.

• HIV/AIDS impacts on our development and human settlement sector.

• The nature of the infection has shifted from specific groups to a generalized infection such as the married, the singles, the fishermen, the prostitutes, the adolescents, etc are all affected.

• Our Housing sector development work can put beneficiaries at risk or increase vulnerability e.g. construction of roads can open up an area for infection, formation of Housing Cooperatives and construction of unplanned settlements can increase vulnerability, etc

• Without putting on HIV/AIDS lenses, our Housing Development sector can miss out on HIV and AIDS affected households and individuals

Key Policy Issues cont’d

Summary of risk and contextual factors driving the HIV epidemic in Uganda. (Ministry of Health, Uganda)

Risk factors for HIV Transmission Contextual Factors for the HIV and AIDS Epidemic

1. Multiple sexual partner

2. Discordance and non disclosure

Socio-cultural factors

3. No condom use

4. Marriage without testing

Wealth and Poverty

5. Transactional sex

6. Blood Transfusion

Low status of women and girls

7. Presence of HSV-2 & STIs

8. Intact fore skin

Human rights, stigma & discrimination

9. Alcohol and Drug use

10. Behavior laxity due to ART

Inequality to access to prevention, care and treatment

11. Mother to Child Transmission

12. Poor Housing****

Key Policy Issues cont’d

• In 2012, SSA:UHSNET together with Consultants from the Uganda AIDS Commission agreed to add “poor housing” as a risk factor for HIV Transmission.

• An analysis from the Table shows that all the contextual factors for the HIV and AIDS Epidemic in Uganda have a direct bearing on poor housing. The situation may be the same for other countries.

Greater risk for HIV and AIDS among Housing Cooperatives – Training Experience by SSA:UHSNETIn 2011, Training for members of the Housing Cooperatives

revealed areas where housing cooperatives were likely to have greater risk as follows:

• Multiple sexual partners - Infected members join cooperatives, and engage in unprotected sex.

• Discordance and non disclosure- Members in the housing cooperatives are not willing to disclose their HIV status

• Alcohol and drug abuse- In meetings held every Sunday, members are free to come with their drinks including alcohol

• Sharing of sharp objects – After meetings, women tend to have unsterilized manicures in a group.

• In the Housing Cooperatives, it is not mandatory to take an HIV test before one becomes a member and there is no law that stops members from relating like in some NGOs.

• Accidents- These could pose a threat of an infection while working on projects like brick laying.

• Wealth and poverty - Some rich members of the Cooperatives expecting sexual favors to help others.

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Key Policy Issues cont’dSSA’s Experience with HIV and AIDS Policy Workshops and

Conferences• In 2011, SSA:UHSNET participated in a consensus building

workshop for the Social Development Sector on HIV Prevention Strategy and Action Plan under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. The need to include people living in slums, the homeless and the internally displaced as another special group in the HIV Prevention Strategy was pointed out and incorporated.

• In 2011, SSA:UHSNET participated in the UN Women Consultative meeting on the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Bill. SSA observed that part VI of the Bill (Discrimination on grounds of HIV Status) lacked a clause on Discrimination on grounds of housing status. SSA highlighted related housing issues of HIV and AIDS and gender which were incorporated in the Bill. In May 2014, the Parliament passed the Bill and President Yoweri Museveni signed the Act into law on July 31 2014.  

• SSA:UHSNET has been represented in international AIDS Conferences under the Housing and HIV and AIDS Sessions. A related publication where SSA contributed findings was produced.

Key Policy Issues cont’dKey questions for HIV/AIDS mainstreaming in

housing.• How does HIV/AIDS impact on the housing sector.• How does work in housing increase beneficiaries’

risks to HIV.• How does lack of adequate housing increase risk or

affect care, treatment and support.• What can we do in our comparative advantage to

reduce risks and mitigate impact of HIV/AIDS to those affected?

Effective Strategies for AdvocacySteps in planning and

implementing advocacy

Step 1: Select an issue or problem you want to address

Step 2: Analyze and gather information on the issue

Step 3: Develop an aim &objectives for advocacy work

Step 4: Identify your targets

Step 5: Identify your allies

Step 6: Create action plan

Step 7: Identify your resources

Step 8: Implement, monitor and evaluate

Implementation of advocacy by SSA

Right to adequate housing for HIV &AIDS affected families

SSA has conducted research and information gathering

To improve the lives of persons living in slums

HIV &AIDS affected families

Network members and communities

SSA mainstreaming plan

Resource mobilization partnership building

Currently ongoing in SSA

SSA:UHSNET’s Strategic Advocacy in national AIDS planning

• As housing Advocates, our role has been to be part of the national workshops that disseminate bills, policies and strategies on HIV and AIDS. In these workshops, we have advocated for the inclusion of Housing Status as a risk factor

• We have invited parliamentarians and representatives from Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to be part of our yearly National AIDS day celebrations.

• Engaging government officials such as line ministries: MoHUD, MoH, MoFEP, MoGLSD, Parliamentarians and KCCA informed about what we are advocating for, that is, housing for people living with HIV and AIDS. Support in form of donations, land and housing has been pledged.

• Dissemination of the Publication on HIV and AIDS and Housing has contributed to the broader

Action Tools and resource materials for advocacy

• Policy analysis: to advocate for its improvement, implementation or non-implementation

• A position paper: SSA has taken a step in delivering position papers e.g. a position paper on evictions

• Using media advocacy: SSA has had extensive media engagement to influence the rights of the oppressed

• Using Press Releases: SSA has responded to an action of Evictions.

• Engaging the media: SSA has engaged in TV and Radio interviews though not yet on HIV and AIDS and housing related

• Community sensitization and support

Benefits of networkingSuccessful networking helps to:• Accomplish something together which you could not

accomplish alone• Strengthen advocacy• Influence others inside and outside the network• Broaden the understanding of an issue or struggle by

bringing together different constituencies• Share the work• Reduce duplication efforts and wasting resources• Promote the exchange of ideas, insights, experiences and

skills• Provide a needed sense of solidarity, moral and

psychological support • Under certain circumstances, mobilize financial resources

The challenges of networkingSSA Challenges• Personal interests of the individual members• Taking so long to realize the tangible benefits of the

network• The different paces at which we are as network members

at times stalls work especially trainings and community mobilization

• High expectations of network members particularly financial support

• The HIV affected communities are many and can not all be reached by SSA.

End

Thank you