Robin Fox

mwanza Tanzanian AIDS project works towards “good things for young people”

n This article presents the MEMA kwa Vijana project implemented in the primary schools in Mwanza, Tanzania, to work towards effective prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. Its main partners include the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical and Research Foundation, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The project is testing a package, which consists of an innovative health education in schools, youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, and community mobilization. This triple package costs less than US

RED LIGHT ON CALCUTTA ; HEALTH VIA SCHOOLS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

5/pupil/year and is replicable on a large scale. The educational component includes not only formal teaching on reproductive health but also peer education, and is supplemented by extracurricular activities. A study is being conducted in 20 rural communities to assess the impact of the intervention.n

Primary care tomorrow

UKs Overseas Development Administration (ODA) is supporting a project in a Calcutta slum (Sonagachi) where sex workers trained in prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV distribute condoms to other sex workers and educate them about STD/HIV prevention. Their green coat designates their status. They work out of a small clinic in Sonagachi which maintains the records and provides inexpensive diagnosis and treatment. Condom use among sex workers has increased from 2.7% to 67.8%. The public health specialist heading up the project hopes that the triple approach (peer education STD treatment and condom distribution) will keep HIV infections at their current low level (1-2%). He and his colleagues are evaluating this approach in five other red light districts of Calcutta. ODA also supports the Andhra Pradesh School Health Project. It involves the training of primary school teachers and multipurpose health workers development of a health curriculum a loan plan for furnishing health workers with mopeds and medicine kits for schools. Project-related research includes effectiveness of teachers as health promoters and evaluations of salt fortified with iodine and iron and water fluoridation. If this projects evaluation is good it will need a new headquarters in Hyderabad. Both projects emphasize good record keeping and evaluation.