Wednesday, November 28, 2007
World AIDS Day - Reaching Those on the Margins
On December 1st, people around the globe will mark 
the 20th annual observance of World AIDS Day. While significant progress has been made to fight the disease, HIV/AIDS remains a deadly reality for millions of people. There are currently over 33 million people living with HIV, while every day, over 6,800 become infected with HIV, and over 5,700 die from AIDS,mostly because of inadequate access to prevention and treatment services.[1] The HIV epidemic continues to pose a global threat, particularly among populations denied access to care by discrimination and neglect.
the 20th annual observance of World AIDS Day. While significant progress has been made to fight the disease, HIV/AIDS remains a deadly reality for millions of people. There are currently over 33 million people living with HIV, while every day, over 6,800 become infected with HIV, and over 5,700 die from AIDS,mostly because of inadequate access to prevention and treatment services.[1] The HIV epidemic continues to pose a global threat, particularly among populations denied access to care by discrimination and neglect.
Doctors of the World-USA is committed to making life saving HIV prevention and treatment accessible to everyone. Our
programs focus on the disenfranchised – women, street youth, and rural and indigenous populations – and our efforts build the systems and skills of local health providers to enable them to deliver comprehensive outreach, education, prevention, and treatment services. The communities we serve face significant barriers to the life-saving care and treatment that has contributed to declining HIV rates in other parts of the world.
A Global Commitment
DOW currently works on four continents to create lasting access to comprehensive care for disenfranchised individuals and communities. Below are just two examples of how we work to fight HIV/AIDS around the globe.
Before DOW built an HIV clinic in the rural West Pokot district of Kenya, HIV services and ARV therapy were virtually unavailable. Just two years later, with a fully operating clinic, regular trainings for local health workers, and semi-mobile clinics bringing staff and supplies to five rural health centers, the district has made significant strides in ensuring people living with HIV have access to care. In a new video, Kenyan HIV patients and health providers discuss the barriers to accessing treatment and providing care in the district, and the impact of DOW’s services on the community.
In Russia, DOW is enabling local providers to reach street youth with vital HIV prevention and treatment services. As reported in the journal AIDS, a study conducted by DOW, the US Centers for Disease Control, and the City AIDS Center in St. Petersburg found a shocking 37.4% HIV prevalence among 15-19 year old street youth in St. Petersburg, revealing the full extent to which street youth are at risk for HIV. With the opening of a new halfway house for HIV-affected youth and a mobile outreach initiative bringing testing and counseling to the streets, DOW is ensuring youth not only have access to services, but also have the support and the opportunity to change the underlying conditions that leave them with few alternatives.
Our programs are equipping local health workers with the tools they need to fight this deadly epidemic and ensure everyone in their communities has access to care. Your support enables us to bring those tools to the world’s most excluded.