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West Africa Regional Program: Action for West Africa Region (AWARE-HIV/AIDS)
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Program
Focus: |
HIV/AIDS, reproductive
health |
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Target
Regions: |
The project covers 21 countries in West & Central
Africa, including the 15 ECOWAS nations, Mauritania, Cameroon,
Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome & Principe |
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Target
Population: |
Truck drivers, commercial sex workers
through PSAMAO/PSAMAC with the Cross Border initiative; Youth,
Orphan and Vulnerable Children, People living with AIDS, Faith
Based and General Population through the West Ambassadors’
AIDS Fund (WAAF).
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Products: |
Prudence male condoms
Protector Plus male condoms
Femidom female condoms
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Local
Collaboration: |
PSI/AWARE collaborates with National
AIDS Coordinating bodies (NACP/NAC) in all 21 countries; other
regional projects (OCAL-Corridor Abidjan-Lagos), international
and local NGOs. PSI collaborates with FHI and Futures
Group for AWARE-HIV/AIDS and Engender Health for AWARE-Reproductive
Health. |
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Current
Donors: |
U.S. Agency for International Development
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| Year Program Began: |
2003 |
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Project Activities and Highlights
The AWARE Cross Border HIV/AIDS prevention initiative
integrates HIV and Family Planning activities into PSAMAO/PSAMAC (Prévention
du SIDA sur les Axes Migratoire de l’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre).
It aims to promote safe and responsible sexual behavior among truckers
and prostitutes in West & Central Africa in order to decrease the
spread of HIV/AIDS and to avert unwanted pregnancies.
HIV/AIDS
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Cross Border Prevention Initiative
Initially launched in four countries in 1998 under FHA (Family
Health and AIDS) PSAMAO/ PSAMAC cross border activities were integrated
into AWARE in 2003. Since then, the network has been expanded to
ten countries as of late 2006. The AWARE focus is to bring countries
together under a common vision and strategy to plan interventions,
develop tools for cross border activities, leading to a coherent
and consistent regional HIV/AIDS prevention targeting mobile populations. |
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The West Africa Ambassadors' AIDS Fund (WAAF)
The WAAF was designed by
USAID in response to increased expectation from the US Congress
and State Department for Embassy contributions to HIV/AIDS
activities in countries that have received little USAID support
in recent
years, particularly in non-presence countries, by allocating
grants to local organizations. Since its creation in 2001, five
Rounds have been awarded for $75,000 to $100,000 per country
annually. Interventions implemented portray the multidimensional
aspect of HIV/AIDS prevention and care in various fields: counseling
and testing, communication outreach, HIV/AIDS training, condom
social marketing, income generating activities, orphan and vulnerable
children, and care and support for people living with HIV.
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Reproductive Health
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Family Planning
Recognizing the benefit of linking HIV/AIDS services and family planning,
prevention and care packages are offered to truck drivers and sex workers
at PSAMAO/PSAMAC sites since 2005. Specific messages promoting family planning
and condom protection are communicated to at-risk populations. 379 truck
drivers and 872 sex workers visited health centers through the PSAMAO/PSAMAC
referral system. |
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Future Plans
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Upgrade selected sites to become regional model cross border
sites serving to replicate the initiative. |
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Expand PSAMAO/PSAMAC network to 12 countries. |
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Sites and routes reached by PSAMAO/PSAMAC in 2006.
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A road billboard at the N'Gueli truck stop in
Chad promotes consistent condom use: "Roulez protégez!" (Ride
protected!)
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