STOP HIV

HIV, AIDS, and Sexually Transmitted Infections

OVERVIEW:Every 24 hours, an estimated 6,800 people are infected with HIV (nearly 50 every minute!) and more than 1 million contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Currently, an estimated 33 million people are living with HIV, and in Sub-Saharan Africa—the region hit hardest by the pandemic—the majority of 15-24 year-olds living with HIV is female. The need for quality HIV, AIDS, and STI services is therefore more important than ever.

Current health care systems in most of the developing world are struggling to provide even the most basic health services. While HIV treatment is becoming more widely available in the developed world, it still eludes most people living in the world’s poorest communities. In these places, not only is medication often unavailable, but health care providers are not adequately trained to help patients prevent HIV/STIs or treat or counsel patients who are living with HIV or AIDS. Additionally, health workers often discriminate against people living with HIV and perpetuate the stigma surrounding HIV in their workplaces and communities.

EngenderHealth is addressing these inequities in care by training health providers, improving health services, and advocating for national policies that respond to the needs of people living with HIV. EngenderHealth is:

Improving access to critical HIV services, including: voluntary counseling and testing for HIV; treatment, care and support; andpreventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Reducing the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS in health care settings

Improving the safety and effectiveness of existing clinical services, including reducing the risk of transmitting HIV and other STIs

Integrating HIV and AIDS services with sexual and reproductive health services to better meet clients’ needs

Promoting the right of people living with HIV to sexual and reproductive health care, including family planning

Providing women, men and youth with comprehensive information to make informed and voluntary decisions about ways to prevent HIV and other STIs

Increasing access to adult male circumcision, a technology proven to reduce HIV risk

Engaging men as partners in reproductive health

SAVE LIVES AND GIVE HOPE

How do you know you are making a difference in the lives of children in Africa?

These are examples of how far you contribution to Save Africa's Children

will go to meet the needs of orphans and vulnerable children:

The amount you spend on eating out for lunch in one day could support monthly medical care for an orphan in Kenya.

For the cost of one theater ticket per month, you can ensure that a high school student in Uganda will have room and board for year.

For the cost of dinner and a movie, you can bless a child in Malawi monthly with all that she/he needs to attend school.

What you pay monthly for a gym membership can ensure that hundreds of undernourished children are given one additional meal per day.