The National Strategic Plan (NSP) on HIV, STIs & TB (2012–2016) acknowledges the need to focus on mobile and migrant populations when addressing challenges specific to key populations in South Africa. It also recognises that this group is vulnerable to HIV infection and in crucial need of services. In line with this, in June 2013, SANAC employed Musa Manganye as the National Manager to lead the HIV prevention programme for mobile men and migrant populations.
The programme will engage various sectors representing the interests of mobile men and migrant populations, such as mine workers, truck drivers and agricultural workers, in a bid to optimise and co-ordinate HIV prevention services for these populations; co-ordinate efforts aimed at reaching consensus around the nature and scope of such interventions; and, rally support from key role players and sector representatives around activities to be implemented in this context.
Although the programme is in its preliminary phase, there has been substantial progress towards making it a national coordinated programme. SANAC is currently participating in the national Department of Transport’s coordinating committee on HIV and AIDS, TB and STIs for the transport sector, and has made a plenary contribution in the form of technical assistance and capacity building towards the implementation of an operational plan for the 2013/ 2014 financial year.
SANAC is also working on establishing a multi-stakeholder advisory committee on mobile men and migrant populations to advise on the following:
- Strengthening the coordination mechanism of the mobile men and migrants programme
- Conducting population size estimates that will be useful in devising programmes that are both needs- and evidence-based
- Developing the national strategic framework for mobile men and migrants
- Developing a national monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for mobile men and migrants
- Leveraging resource mobilisation for programme scale up and sustainability
- Developing a communication strategy for mobile men and migrants
- Strengthening referral systems inter-country and cross-border
- Reducing risk to HIV, TB and STIs among mobile men and migrants in the country
- The rolling out and implementation of the mobile men and migrants programme.
Musa Manganye is national manager for HIV Prevention among Mobile Men & Migrants
Nditsheni Mungoni is the Senior Manager: National Strategic Plan Implementation at SANAC.
Picture: Truck drivers are particularly vulnerable to HIV
(Photo: www.avert.org)