Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108398

Nancy Kern, MPH, Hawaii Department of Health, 3627 Kilauea Avenue, Suite 304, Honolulu, HI 96816, (808) 733-9281, nkern@camhmis.health.state.hi.us and Hor Bun Leng, MD, CDC Cambodia, American Embassy, Box P, APO AP, Phnom Penh, 96546, Cambodia.

Issues: Cambodia has one of Southeast Asia's most serious HIV/AIDS epidemics. Although there have been efforts to challenge the HIV epidemic in Cambodia, it still remains a significant public health threat, highlighting the need for effective strategies that include participation from those affected by the epidemic: Cambodians themselves.

Description: Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Global AIDS Program (CDC GAP), the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) initially collaborated with U.S. CDC/Cambodia national HIV planning bodies and provincial health departments in Cambodia to select two local Commune Councils (CC) with which to implement HIV community planning. Based on information and data obtained from these interviews, interventions, including inter-active games, were utlized in collaborating with CC members in empowering them to develop a plan for addressing the challenges of HIV/AIDS.

Lessons Learned: With technical assistance and support, empowered community members are able to take initiative for addressing HIV issues within their communities. Mechanisms for communicating and planning between provincial health departments and local communities were enhanced, allowing for this HIV planning process to be sustained and potentially replicated within a population that has been significantly affected by the HIV epidemic.

Recommendations: Local, national and international agencies working in countries heavily impacted by the HIV epidemic should begin to collaborate in developing activities to enhance and strengthen communication and planning in these countries. Local community leaders and groups can be empowered to assume responsibility for addressing HIV/AIDS issues within their respective communities.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify meeting content, including skits/games and other methods, utilized in collaborating with health departments and community groups.
• Describe how to collaborate with existing, local governmental infrastructures in implementing a model for community-based planning.
• Discuss how this planning model leads to sustainability and replicability of the process within the targeted community.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.