Regional workshop on HIV responses among seafarers and port-based communities in Southern Africa

Regional workshop on 4-6 November 2009 in Durban, South Africa 

In response to the vulnerabilities faced by seafarers and port-based communities in the ports of southern Africa, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Southern African Development Community (SADC), United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), International Labour Organization (ILO) and Trucking Wellness, organised a Regional Workshop on HIV Responses Among Seafarers and Portbased Communities in Southern Africa, which took place in Durban, South Africa, between 4 and 6 November 2009. The ports that were included in this workshop were: Durban (South Africa), Dar-es-salaam (Tanzania), Maputo and Beira (Mozambique), and Walvis Bay (Namibia). The workshop brought together representatives from National AIDS Councils, relevant line ministries, as well as private companies, unions, international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs), research organisations, and others implementing HIV prevention and care programmes and/or research around the abovementioned ports.

The objectives of the workshop were to:

1. Raise awareness on the issue of HIV and mobility as it relates to seafarers and port-based communities in southern Africa.
2. Increase understanding of IOM’s role in HIV and mobility in the southern African region.
3. Share lessons learned, experiences and good practices of HIV responses, research, policies and programmes, as they relate to seafarers and port-based communities.  
4. Identify existing gaps and challenges in terms of responses, programmes, policies and research.
5. Facilitate networking and increased coordination among partners and stakeholders, and among diff erent agencies implementing HIV responses.
6. Outline the way forward in terms of key components of an eff ective and comprehensive regional HIV and AIDS programme.

The expected outcomes were:

1. Increased understanding of migration dynamics and related HIV vulnerability around the ports of southern Africa.
2. Strengthened networks for future coordination and collaboration among participating organisations.
3. Draft framework for a comprehensive programme on HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support addressing the specifi c needs of seafarers and port-based communities in southern Africa.
4. Agreed short and medium term action plan for taking forward the above draft framework, identifying key activities and role players.

For the purposes of this workshop, “seafarer” is defined as a person who makes his or her living in the navigation, conduct, maintenance or service of ships or other vessels.