Risk Communication and Community Engagement to Strengthen the Fight against COVID-19 and HIV
-
by
AFENET
Funder: UNAIDS
Project period: 2 August 2021 to 31 March 2022
Background:
Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Africa February 2020, the HIV global targets of testing and treatment set for 2020 have been missed as such efforts need to be scaled-up during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for key and vulnerable populations, women and girls, to be back on track to ending AIDS as a public threat by 2030. The African Union with support from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has demonstrated strong leadership and coordination in the fight against COVID-19 with the endorsement of a unified continental strategy to enhance collaboration, coordination, and communication. This strategy known as African Taskforce on Coronavirus (AFTCOR) comprising of seven technical working groups was set up with partners including UNAIDS to guide Member States and partners’ efforts in the fight against the pandemic, and one of the working groups of the AFTCOR covers risk communication and community engagement (RCCE).
Objectives:
- To strengthen Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) of the African Task Force on COVID-19.
- To support decrease in vulnerability and increase awareness on COVID-19 to the public, especially people at higher risk.
Expected outcome(s):
- Strengthened staff capacity for Africa CDC through secondment and recruitment of staff by AFENET
- Strengthened capacity of Member States to respond to public health emergencies timely and effectively through community engagement.
