Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Police AIDS Control Unit

last updated May 11, 2012

Overview

Implementing organization: 
Kenya Police Service
Implementation Partner(s): 
National AIDS Control Council; Family Health International; Centres For Disease Control and Prevention and FGE; Global Help International; AMREF/Policy Project; Ministry of Health; NASCOP and Other ACU’s
Legal Status: 
Public-private partnership
Year Launched: 
2004
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
All income levels

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Government
Funders: 
Centres For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Family Health International (FHI), FGE, Global Help International

Technology

Technology Used: 
Phones › Apps/Software, Computer

Scale

Personnel Employed: 
50-99
Number of Clients Served: 
5,419 got Voluntary counseling and testing services; 1200 Officers trained in Peer Education on HIV and AIDS.;50 Officers trained as VCT counselors; 35 officers (inspectorate and above) sensitized by officers from DPM on Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS; 4 officers have been trained on data management; 20 Officers from Institutions have been trained as TOTs; 10 clinical/nurses have been trained in Dispensing or administering ARTs/ ARVS and on Diagnostic counseling and Testing
Number of Facilities Operated/Networked: 
5 VCT centres have been constructed, equipped and Launched in Nairobi; 2 small ones at Anti-Stock Theft Unit Gilgil and Kenya Police College Kiganjo
Summary: 

The Police AIDS Control Unit vision is to have healthy HIV/AIDS free Police officers by creating awareness of HIV/AIDS, reduce prevalence rate, maintain and sustain positive behavior change, enhance care and support and eliminate stigma and discrimination amongst the officers and their families.

Key program components: 

Since the appearance of the HIV and AIDS in Kenya in 1984, the pandemic has caused the deaths of many Kenyans and police officers have been greatly affected by the disease and a number of officers are either infected or affected. The department has lost many officers and they remain vulnerable. They have conducted countrywide capacity building workshops to sensitize the officers. Peer education programs have been put in place and over seven hundred officers trained. So far not much has been done in terms of treatment, care and support due to the fact that most of the infected officers have not come up openly or are not willing to be tested.

The control unit is contributing towards the improvement of the quality of life and health of Police Officers, and their families by helping to reduce the spread of new infections, prevalence rate, improve the quality of life of those infected and affected and mitigate the socio-economic impact of the epidemic in Kenya Police Service. This will be done through well managed programmes on HIV and AIDS as follows:

  • Prevent the spread of new infections of HIV and AIDS through education and behavior change within the department

  • Increase access to VCT Services Improve Health care services to promote quality of life for officers living with HIV and AIDS

  • Increase the number of female officers to access PMCT Services

  • Strengthen programmes that improve attitudes and practices on Gender on issues related to HIV and AIDS

  • Improve monitoring, evaluation and coordination of HIV and Aids Programs in the Department

  • Establish data Centres at Police Headquarters/Formations/Provincial and Divisional levels.

  • Increase accessibility to ART in the VCT Centres

  • Train 15 medical Officers to dispense ARTs

  • Promotion of behavior Change by at least 30% by the year 2007

  • To distribute one million condoms and protective materials.

  • Incorporate HIV and AIDS Training Curriculum in the 13 Police Training in the Institutions Programs

  • Develop work place policies on HIV and AIDS in Kenya Police Service. Partner

From 2004 to 2006, the Police ACU made achievements by Orientation and training of ACU Committee Members in coordination and Management of HIV and AIDS Programs. Orientation of Senior officers from Police Headquarters, Provinces and Formations was held through a four day orientation seminar on HIV and AIDS, and the launching of Sub-ACU’S in each province/Formation/Division in the country. They have conducted continuous Peer Education on HIV and AIDS and training of VCT Counselors drawn from Provinces and some of them have been deployed in the existing VCT centres. So far they have established and equiped 5 VCT centres in Nairobi, and two small ones at Anti-Stock Theft Unit Gilgil and Kenya Police College Kiganjo. They are fully operational and open to all including members of public.

The ACU has developed Behavior Change Communication Materials (I.E.C.) and acquired Protective Materials like Condoms and gloves and sensitzed officers on Public Sector workplace policy on HIV and AIDS.

The Department will continue with more programs in the fight against HIV and AIDS especially in the following areas:

  • Establish and refurbish more VCT centers to in – Nakuru, Kakamega ,Kisumu, Mombasa ,Garissa, Embu, Nyeri, Police Lines and CID Headquarters etc.

  • Enhance access to ARTS/ARVS in big health centres and support the infected or affected officers and their families.

  • Enhancing the mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS programs into core functions.

  • Improve behavior change through distribution of bahaviour change communication materials and Information Education communication materials.

  • Acquire and continue distributing protective materials- condoms, gloves etc.

  • Purchase and distribute condoms dispensers to big stations

  • Training of more VCT Counselors and supervisors

  • Train more officers in administering and dispensing ART/ ARV drugs

  • Strengthen PMCT and TB services at Police dispensaries and VCT centres.

  • Provision of more Mobile VCT Services

  • Conduct more capacity building programs- peer education etc.

  • Enhance the provision of counseling and testing services

  • Strengthen some Health facilities to Comprehensive Care Centres

  • Improve net-working systems

  • Train more data clerks

  • Continuos monitoring and Evaluation programs in the provinces and districts

Program history: 

In March 2004, the Police Department established AIDS Control Unit and several Sub- ACU’s in the Provinces. Several programs have been undertaken and many officers are now sensitized on the pandemic and the prevalence rate has therefore gone down.

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