AN ASSESSMENT OF HIV/AIDS MAINSTREAMING PROGRAMMES IN PUBLIC SECTORS OF KOMBOLCHA

The HIV/AIDS problem is more than a health problem in Ethiopia. It recognized that the epidemic is a crucial developmental crisis demanding for a broad multi-sectoral response. The general objective of this study was to assess HIV/AIDS mainstreaming programmes implementation in the public sectors of Kombolcha City Administration. It also aimed to examine the existing performance of public sectors and opportunities to mainstream HIV/AIDS issues and to explore the challenges faced by the study sectors in the process of HIV/AIDS mainstreaming practice. In order to meet these objectives, the study used quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to explore HIV/AIDS mainstreaming practices in the study sectors. Consequently, purposive sampling was used to select public sectors of the study. Sample sizes of civil servants for each sample public sectors were done proportional to staff size and for each staff the sample populations were conducted by probability sampling techniques by using simple random sampling methods. The findings showed that HIV/AIDS focal persons in all the study sectors did not properly function their tasks due to the existence of unclear mandate and lack of capacity to coordinate and implement HIV/AIDS mainstreaming practices in their respective sectors. The study public sectors did not fully employ and use different tools and techniques for HIV/AIDS mainstreaming practices. Lack of commitment on the part of decision-making bodies, weak partnership with NGOs and other organizations, lack of awareness about HIV/AIDS mainstreaming, and service sustainability were the major challenges identified in the study. The findings also indicated that unless appropriate and context specific programs and projects are designed at national level in general and at the City level in Particular, the mere presence of policy and strategic documents do not make sense as far as the issues of HIV/AIDS mainstreaming are concerned . Thus, in order to minimize the prevailing impact of the epidemic and HIV/AIDS mainstreaming gaps in the study sectors, the need to implement HIV/AIDS mainstreaming practice is second to none