People with HIV/AIDS going public

"To assess the impact of going public of people with HIV/AIDS (PWAs) as a strategy for HIV/AIDS behavioral change. The Philly Lutaaya Initiative was started in 1991 to enable PWAs to go public so as to create behavioral change in targeted audiences. In 1994; an evaluation was done to assess the impact of the strategy. Focus group discussion and open ended questionnaire data was collected from 62 PWAs; 72 opinion leaders and 80 audiences. The data was analyzed using qualitative methods. All the PWAs supported the strategy. The spirit of ""serving others"" and the ""always increasing acceptability"" are sources of encouragement to the PWAs. The relatives/friends of PWAs attitudes change gradually; becoming more positive. 69/70 of the friends/relatives recommended and supported the strategy. Audiences cited many benefits of going public including its power to initiate behavioral change and to empower the infected and the affected. Going public relied on publicity especially the ability to utilise community leaders. The PLI PWAs have not had any significant problem due to going public. The target audiences; relatives/friends and opinion leaders support and highlight the power of going public. Relatives and or friends of PWA's attitudes change gradually; becoming more positive."

Psychosocial shared care therapy for PWAs (Philly Lutaya Initiative Model)

Finding out one's own serostatus is a problem but it is a greater problem when one tests HIV+. The immediate feeling is loneliness; who to tell next? What will be the implication to my family? It becomes another sickness. In Uganda; a self help project focusing on shared care for PWA has been set up under the umbrella of Philly Lutaya Initiative (PLI). Description: PLI was set up four years ago with the following objectives:1. To give AIDS a human face. 2. Bring together PWAs to share experiences and support each other. 3. Build working capacity among PWAs. 4. Educate the community through life experienced. Many members of Philly Lutaya have pernalised the feeling of being HIV+ i.e. copping and acceptance of the problem. Being HIV+ has been used as an entry point to draw attention to educate the community; minimise stigma and descrimination. The sensitised communities have developed positive attitudes to PWAs and this gives positive people continously upheld the morale of PWAs. If funds can allow; more PWAs initiatives should be implemented in other districts of the country

People with HIV/AIDS going public

"To assess the impact of going public of people with HIV/AIDS (PWAs) as a strategy for HIV/AIDS behavioral change. The Philly Lutaaya Initiative was started in 1991 to enable PWAs to go public so as to create behavioral change in targeted audiences. In 1994; an evaluation was done to assess the impact of the strategy. Focus group discussion and open ended questionnaire data was collected from 62 PWAs; 72 opinion leaders and 80 audiences. The data was analyzed using qualitative methods. All the PWAs suppoted the strategy. The spirit of ""serving others"" and the ""always increasing acceptability"" are sources of encouragement to the PWAs. The relatives/friends of PWAs attitudes change gradually; becoming more positive. 69/70 of the friends/relatives recommended and supported the strategy. Audiences cited many benefits of going public including its power to initiate behavioral change and to empower the infected and the affected. Going public relied on publicity especially the ability to utilise community leaders. The PLI PWAs have not had any significant problem due to going public. The target audiences; relatives/friends and opinion leaders support and highlight the power of going public. Relatives and or friends of PWA's attitudes change gradually; becoming more positive."

Psychosocial shared care therapy for PWAs (Philly Lutaya Initiative Model)

Finding out one's own serostatus is a problem but it is a greater problem when one tests HIV+. The immediate feeling is loneliness; who to tell next? What will be the implication to my family? It becomes another sickness. In Uganda; a self help project focusing on shared care for PWA has been set up under the umbrella of Philly Lutaya Initiative (PLI). Description: PLI was set up four years ago with the following objectives:1. To give AIDS a human face. 2. Bring together PWAs to share experiences and support each other. 3. Build working capacity among PWAs. 4. Educate the community through life experienced. Many members of Philly Lutaya have pernalised the feeling of being HIV+ i.e. copping and acceptance of the problem. Being HIV+ has been used as an entry point to draw attention to educate the community; minimise stigma and descrimination. The sensitised communities have developed positive attitudes to PWAs and this gives positive people continously upheld the morale of PWAs. If funds can allow; more PWAs initiatives should be implemented in other districts of the country