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Implementing an HIV/AIDS Policy at a Major Caribbean University. B. Anglin-Brown, B. Bain, M. Ruddock-Small, J. Mullings. Context. Today, the Caribbean still has the second highest prevalence rate of HIV infections in the world, with only the sub-Saharan African region having higher rates.
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Implementing an HIV/AIDS Policy at a Major Caribbean University B. Anglin-Brown, B. Bain, M. Ruddock-Small, J. Mullings
Context • Today, the Caribbean still has the second highest prevalence rate of HIV infections in the world, with only the sub-Saharan African region having higher rates.
THE CARIBBEAN Central America South America
The University of the West Indies(UWI) Established 1948
The University of the West Indies (2008) • Multinational, quasi-Governmental • Serving mainly the Anglophone Caribbean (15 countries) • Student enrollment > 40,000 • Staff complement > 2,500 Mandate: Education & Training, Research, Consultation, Community Outreach
Issues • Policies can be shelf documents that few people are aware of, thus lessening their value. • This was our experience at the University of the West Indies after the first HIV/AIDS Policy was approved in 1986. • In 2001, the challenge was to create an updated HIV/AIDS policy and have it implemented within the University!
First HIV Policy at UWI • Developed and approved at the Jamaica campus largely through advocacy by the Director of the Campus Health Service • Adopted for the entire university in 1995 • Few persons were aware of its existence
In the year 2000 • No organized HIV programme at UWI (only a small program at the University Hospital) • HIV not high on the strategic agenda of the University • The UWI Vice-Chancellor approached three leaders to ask for increased UWI involvement in the response to HIV/AIDS
Birth of UWI HARP • Brainstorming meeting held in March 2001 • Committees launched on the three campuses: • Jamaica - August 2001 • Barbados - February 2002 • Trinidad & Tobago - February 2002
2001: The UWI HIV/AIDS Response Programme established as an Institutional Programme
Genesis of a Revised UWI HIV policy • A voluntary, multidisciplinary task force appointed from among UWI HARP members • Led by the Director of the University Health Service on the Jamaica campus
Developing the new document • Information gathered from other universities and organizations • A succession of drafts prepared • Legal input sought • Outside of UWI HARP, we noted that HIV was still not high on the agenda of the leaders and decision-makers in the university
Getting formal approval • Draft document presented to the decision making committee on the Jamaica campus • After much deliberation, accepted by campus authorities for implementation • Subsequently presented to the senior administrative group governing all campuses • Accepted as a university-wide policy
Implementation steps • Multidisciplinary working group formed • Director, University Health Services, Jamaica campus • UWI HARP Members • Specialists in Communication,Gender, Behaviour change • Staff Association representatives • UWI Guild of Students • Office of Student Services • Situational assessment via questionnaire survey and focus group studies • Issues related to HIV placed in the context of wellness
Implementation steps • Multiple communication tools used • Reader-friendly version of full document developed • University community segmented into target audiences • Different methods designed for each target audience • Sensitization workshops held for staff and students • HIV/AIDS policy… • positioned as part of wellness programme • linked with policy to reduce sexual harassment
Lessons Learned • Establishing an organized programme at UWI in response to HIV/AIDS was a catalyst for revision and implementation of the university’s HIV/AIDS policy
Lessons Learned • In the policy implementation phase, using multiple methods and segmenting the target audiences allowed more effective reach to the university community
Lessons Learned • Pursuing HIV as part of a “landscape” of relevant personal and social issues can be more successful than isolating the issue • “Sexual safety is part of wellness” • Part of community wellness is protecting the rights of PLWHA within the institution.
Lessons Learned • Training and involvement of peer educators allowed more effective communication with members of the university community • No policy is static. Ours is a policy in evolution…
Next steps • Policy Implementation started on the Jamaica campus will be extended to the other campuses • Further review of the policy has begun • Our approach has sparked interest in the development of policies dealing with other issues, including drugs, alcohol and sexual abuse
Next steps • We will try to find ways to keep the policy relevant and alive • Longer-term evaluation of the outcome and impact of this effort is necessary
Acknowledgements • Critical importance of external funding • The ‘SIRHASC’ Project (via CARICOM/PANCAP) • The National Health Fund (Jamaica) • The World Bank (via CARICOM/PANCAP) • Special thanks to the in-house team of volunteers on the Jamaica campus • The University Health Service • The Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) • The Trade Unions (Staff Associations)
