COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP) believes that well informed communities contribute to better science.  MUWRP is committed to actively engaging communities in the different stages of the research process right from trial protocol development/design, through implementation to dissemination of research findings.

Through its community outreach component, MUWRP has engaged communities in Kampala and Kayunga districts by interfacing with the media, dialoguing with Policy makers, sensitizing communities and their leaders, orienting health professionals and above all, working with Community Advisory Boards.

Community Advisory Board (CAB)

A Community Advisory Board (CAB) is a group of volunteers and/or elected representatives from the community where the clinical trial is taking place.  They represent the interests of the community to researchers.  CAB members help researchers understand and appreciate local customs that govern the community where the trial/research study is going to be conducted. This helps create harmony between researchers and the community.  CAB members also work to protect the rights of volunteers who decide to take part in clinical trials.  They are therefore seen as the bridge between researchers and the community.

MUWRP has two CABs in the two districts of operation (Kampala and Kayunga). These CABs comprise of Religious leaders, former trial participants, youth representatives, women representatives, representatives of disabled persons and local leaders among other groups.  CAB members help review research documents such as the informed consent document, recruitment materials, mobilize communities and provide feedback between researchers and communities on the research being undertaken.

HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Cross –CAB Network

MUWRP CABs are part of a national network of CABs working in biomedical HIV prevention trials in Uganda.  This network, known as the HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Cross –CAB Network was formed in mid 2005 bringing together over 40 CAB members from 5 different biomedical HIV prevention trials institutions including the Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP), International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), Medical Research Council – Masaka (MRC), Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) and the Makerere University Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration (MUHJU). The network holds an annual forum to discuss issues relating to HIV prevention trials in Uganda, share experiences and provide recommendations to researchers.  

Media Engagement

MUWRP works in partnership with IAVI (Uganda) to conduct annual media training workshops primarily focusing on health reporters.  The aim of the training is to;
a). Build capacity in HIV vaccine research reporting
b). Provide updates on HIV vaccine research
c). Build alliances

There have so far been 2 training workshops held under this partnership. The health media practitioners training sessions are always preceded by Editors meetings.  Editors are the final decision makers of what gets to be published or aired.  It is believed that training reporters as well as orienting their editors goes a long way in enhancing timely and accurate reporting of HIV vaccine research related issues.

Policy Makers

Engaging policy makers has predominately focused on Parliamentarians through dialogue.  This activity is conducted annually and is coordinated by the Uganda AIDS Commission Research Coordinating Entity.  The bulk of the discussion centers on providing updates in HIV vaccine research and lobbying for support to enhance research into new prevention technologies.  Each year, Ugandan scientists highlight key issues of upcoming clinical trials, research findings from concluded studies, the way forward as well as the need for political and financial support.

Health Professionals

Health professionals are instrumental vehicles for dissemination of information to grass root communities.  Potential volunteers seek guidance from their doctors, pharmacists, nurses, dentists and counselors among others on a number of health issues including joining clinical trials.  If un-informed, health professionals could easily negatively influence potential volunteers from joining clinical trials and other HIV related research studies. 

MUWRP recognizes the need to work with health professionals in a bid to build networks particularly in terms of referral when need arises.  A series of information seminars for various groups of health professionals have been conducted targeting; The National Drug Authority (NDA), Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU), Uganda Society for Health Scientists (USHS), University Medical Students, Paramedical Students, Uganda Mid wives Association, student nurses, medical staff in religious affiliated health care facilities and the Uganda Private Practitioners Association among others.  These campaigns are on-going and provide for re-fresher sessions.

General Communities

MUWRP educates general communities through mass media, public events and information seminars at the clinic site.  The sensitization campaigns are two fold.

1. To broadly create awareness about HIV vaccine Research. 
2. To provide protocol specific information geared towards recruitment into a specific clinical trial or cohort study.

Broad community sensitization campaigns are conducted using mass media such as radio talk shows and public events such as commemorative days.  Protocol specific education sessions are conducted at the trial site as well as selected community venues using the lecture and Q& A approach.  One of the most exciting ways to create awareness about HIV vaccine research is through the annual HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD) marked every 18th May.