“MOONLIGHT VCT”: Reaching High Risk

Populations Along The Highway

AUTHORS: Job Akuno1Rayola Osanya-Nyynéque1,,,

Malinda Wheeler1, Andrew Ndunda1, Geraldine Musango1, Jonathan Musyoki1, Elizabeth Marum2

1HOPE worldwide Kenya, 2CDC Kenya

VCT SERVICES

• HOPE worldwide Kenya (HWWK) provides VCT services along Nairobi – Mombasa Highway

• 5 permanent VCT sites• Makindu,along the highway, Kibwezi – just off the highway• Mukuru slums, Rongai and One Stop Youth Resource

Centre

• Mobile VCT to underserved peri-urban, rural communities and highway towns

MOONLIGHT VCT SET UP

• Identified “convenient” space at truck stops• Modified semi-loaded container • Tents used as counseling rooms• Reception table• Video discussions – outreach/education• Posters and vehicle announcements

Nairobi– Mombasa Highway

• Major transit route in East Africa• Over 1,000 trucks parked each evening• Hot spots of sex workers• Reported higher HIV prevalence among

truckers FSW than general population

MONTHLY MOONLIGHT

Highway truck stops – 10 towns Night-time VCT services and STI treatment 1 week per month from December 2005 to May

2006

MOONLIGHT METHODOLOGY

• Advance mobilization in each town• Condom promo and distribution• Musician and video through the night• One tent used for STI treatment• Generator for electricity• Services hours: 6pm to 2 am

Results from Moonlight VCT

768

595

23

253195

49

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Clients Seen Clients Tested HIV +ve

# C

lien

ts Male

Female

4% 25%

LESSONS LEARNT

• Night time services are both convenient and private.

• “Moonlight VCT” is feasible and well accepted

• Effective both along and off the highway• More people than just truckers access the

services• Condom packaging determines demands

CHALLENGES

• security for staff and equipment• lack of referral sites open at night• lack of appropriate accommodation for staff• highway noise• disruptions caused by drunk and disorderly bystanders.

RECOMMENDATIONS

VCT sites should adjust service hours to promote VCT as entry into care.

• Moonlight VCT should be extended to many more towns and communities.

• Intensify work with sex workers and truckers to include other preventions.

• Need for “convenient” drop-in centers for comprehensive care.

For further information

Job Odoyance Akuno

youth program Manager

HOPE worldwide Kenya

Box 11775

Nairobi 00100akunojob@yahoo.com

Job.akuno@hwwafrica.org

+254-733-934-797

+254-723-850-599

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• “Strengthening STD/HIV Program” by Prof. Ngugi and Chester Morris• Ministry of Health, Makindu and Kibwezi• Provincial Administration in Makueni District• CDC Kenya Mobile VCT Department Special recognition:• Nicasius Kamani, HOPE worldwide Kenya

(HWWK)• VCT counselors at HWWK-Makindu and

Kibwezi