CDFU has established networks and partnerships with key ministries, districts and community based organizations country wide. The national and district-based interventions reach young people, adults, women and leaders.
i) Young Empowered And Healthy (Y.E.A.H) - CDFU, together with other stakeholders implement the Young Empowered and Healthy campaign on behalf of the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC). Health Communication Partnership (HCP) provides technical assistance for the initiative. Y.E.A.H strives to strengthen and enhance BCC interventions, to increase uptake of HIV/AIDS services for prevention, treatment and care. CDFU has provided the implementation unit for Y.E.A.H since 2004.
Y.E.A.H is a national communication initiative for and by young people which utilizes mass media, community and interpersonal communication to empower young people to adopt healthy life choices. It is implemented through a partnership model whose pillars are Regional Lead Organizations (RLOs) and Young People’s Groups (YAGs) from the four regions of the country (Central, Western, Eastern and Northern). The campaign aims at reducing the HIV/AIDS prevalence, early pregnancies and school drop outs among young people by developing their knowledge and skills for behaviour and social change.
ii) Strengthening TB and HIV&AIDS Responses in East, Central Uganda (STAR-EC) - CDFU is responsible for demand creation for HIV&AIDS and TB services in 9 districts of East Central. Activities include: re-production and dissemination of IEC materials; coordination of broadcast of an interactive radio program (1 hour, weekly on NBS); radio spots on 2 stations, community drama performances; forum theatre and community dialogue sessions by supported CSOs promoting Safe Male circumcision (SMC), TB, HIV/AIDS prevention.
iii) STRIDES for Family Health – CDFU provides the overall BCC support for RH, FP, Child Survival and Nutrition. STRIDES collaborates with 15 districts of Uganda. Interventions are conducted at health facilities and within communities. Activities include orientation of health workers to Interpersonal Communication (IPC) and Behavior Change Communication (BCC), forum theatre performances, community dialogues and management of community integrated services/events.
iv) IRS Project – CDFU is responsible for IEC and BCC activities promoting Indoor Residual Spraying in 10 districts of Northern Uganda. CDFU coordinates broadcast of interactive radio programs & radio spots and supervises work of Sub County based IRS community mobilization committees.
v) STOP Malaria Project - CDFU is one of the partners of the Stop Malaria Project (SMP), a 5-year project funded by the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). The project is managed by Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (CCP). CDFU isresponsible for the community mobilization component of the project. Community mobilization plays an important role in the demand creation process for the malaria control interventions. The communication aims at behavior change. The community mobilization interventions are implemented through Health Assistants, community radio listenership groups and primary schools in 10 districts under the “Stop Malaria in Your Community” campaign.
vi) Healthy Choices- CDFU is implementing a 3 year project under the 7th Government of Uganda/UNFPA Country Programme aimed at strengthening reproductive health and gender equality through radio programming and community dialogue in 8 selected UNFPA districts in Uganda.
PAST PARTNERSHIPS
a) AFFORD
Under the AFFORDHealth Marketing Initiative/Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG), CDFU trained and formed grass root networks, around Popular Opinion Leaders (POLs)/peer educators in 17 districts. POLs provided information and referral services for improved health of the communities. The health areas they educated their communities about were; HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Family Planning, Child Survival, and healthy pregnancy. The objective of the POL intervention was to bring about significant and sustained positive change in behaviour and practices. The POLspromoted use of specific health products and services among groups of peers. CDFU developed the curriculum, trained and continued to supervise the work of 896 POLs (2005 – 2010).
b) African Transformation
CDFU together with the Health Communication Partnership (HCP) developed a curriculum and trained trainers to address gender inequities within their communities. Under the project, profiles of people who were able to overcome gender biases were documented and used during the community trainings. The profiles are a good way to provide skills to overcome gender barriers. Each community training session guided by a curriculum, was attended by an average of 20 – 30 participants to ensure critical discussions, full participation and involvement of each participant in the training. The project was implemented in four districts of (name districts) from(2003 – 2007).
b) Uganda Malaria Partnership Program (UMPP):
CDFU implemented a three-year Malaria Control program in the districts of Kiboga, Kumi and Kanungu in partnership with AMREF, Africare and Uganda Red Cross Society. The program was funded by GlaxoSmithKline, a Pharmaceutical company based in UK. CDFU was responsible for communication aspects including radio programs, spots, print materials and community level activities (2003-2006).