Drive Protected

This initiative aims to reach out to mobile populations at high risk of contracting and passing on HIV/AIDS by sharing information through a peer education network. The project organisers selected 6 transport stations - Neoplan/Odorna and Tudu stations in the Greater Accra Region, Aboabo station in Tamale, Asafo station Kumasi, Techiman Main Lorry Station in Brong Ahafo and Takoradi Main Lorry Station in the Western Region - where 187 peer educators were recruited and trained. The educators were provided with a 2-day training on topics including anatomy and physiology of the male and female reproductive systems, STIs, HIV/AIDS, condom usage, and peer education and communication skills. To facilitate the work of the peer educators, each was given a peer educator toolkit.

The peer educators were responsible for educating their peers by: organising and engaging in bus talks; giving talks on HIV/AIDS during their branch meetings; assisting in the organisation of durbars, quiz competitions, and film shows; branding the transport stations with Drive Protected stickers and posters; and reporting on their activities and progress.

A total of 710 additional peer educators were trained, and other groups such as shop and bar keepers and hawkers were given representation. The training curriculum was upgraded to include fertility management, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and Journey of Hope (a participatory approach to HIV/AIDS education - click here for a guide to this methodology, in PDF format). A refresher course was organised for existing peer educators to enrich their knowledge with new developments, and to introduce the approaches of Journey of Hope and fertility management.

HIV/AIDS, Health, Gender.

The objectives of the project were drawn from the results of a baseline survey conducted in the transport stations. The survey aimed at obtaining a comprehensive view of the reproductive health needs of commercial drivers and other users of the transport stations. Drive Protected objectives are to:

• increase the number of audience members who report consistent condom use with non-regular partners
• increase the number of audience members who know the symptoms and source of treatment of STIs and its relationship with HIV/AIDS transmission
• increase the number of audience members who reduce the number of sex partners
• increase the risk perception on HIV/AIDS of the intended audience
• increase condom sales.

Phase one of the programme was launched at Techiman in November 2000. A follow-up survey was conducted after a year of education; it revealed that sex with commercial sex workers in Asafo and Neoplan Stations dropped from 14% and 22% in the year 2000 to 3% and 2.7%, respectively, in the year 2001. In 2000, Neoplan Station reported that 22% of drivers had sex with commercial sex workers, out of which 81% of the number used condoms. However, in 2001, after intense education, the number of drivers patronising commercial sex workers decreased to 2.7% - and all of them used condoms. Condom use with non-regular partners in Tudu Station rose from 40% in 2000 to 80.8% in 2001.

Based on results from the follow-up survey and the lessons learned, GSMF prepared to extend the campaign to all 10 regions of Ghana. Fourteen stations were added, which included strategically located border towns such as Aflao in the Volta Region, Elubo in the Western Region, and Paga in the Upper East Region. The others were Kaneshie and Tema main stations in the Greater Accra region, Tantri and Kotokoraba stations in the Central Region, Nsawam/Adoagyiri and Koforidua main Lorry Stations in the Eastern Region, Kejetia Lorry Station in the Ashainti Region, Sunyani and Dormaa main Lorry Stations in the Brong Ahafo Region, Ho station in the Volta Region, Bolgatanga Lorry Station in the upper East Region, and Wa main station in the upper West Region.