HIV and AIDS Prevention and Services Support to the Honduras Defense Forces
Abstract
Population Services International (PSI) and its local network member the Pan American Social Marketing Organization (PASMO)/Honduras propose a four year HIV and AIDS prevention and services support program. The central focus of this program is capacity strengthening of the Honduras Armed Forces in order to transition ownership and responsibility of the program from PASMO/Honduras to the Armed Forces over the next four years. To this end, PASMO/Honduras will assist the Military Health Direction (DSM) in operational planning, organizational management, and program design and implementation and will continue to train military personnel to provide comprehensive HIV prevention interventions. Trainings will include topics such as STI prevention education, behavior change communications (BCC), HIV testing and counseling (HTC), and STI diagnostic and management capabilities. These efforts will further increase the capacity of the Honduras Armed Forces to effectively design, implement, and monitor HIV prevention and treatment activities. The proposed program will contribute to the goal of reducing the number of new HIV infections among the Armed Forces in Honduras. Central to this goal is strengthening the capacity of military personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to sustain long-term, comprehensive HIV and STI prevention interventions beyond the life of this program. PASMO/Honduras will collaborate closely with the DSM and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to achieve the following objectives:(1) increase the capacity of the DSM to effectively implement and manage a quality comprehensive HIV prevention program for military personnel in Honduras, (2) increase the percentage of military personnel and dependents in Honduras who are tested for HIV and receive their test results, and (3) increase the capacity of the DSM to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS and HTC, improve knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to HIV/AIDS and HTC, and increase awareness of mental health issues associated with HIV. Key activities will include: (1) developing and implementing a capacity building model to address the gaps in existing capacity and transition direct service delivery from PASMO/Honduras to the DSM, (2) establishing the HIV Prevention Military Technical Working Group in coordination with the DSM, Armed Forces, and MOH, (3) building the capacity of military personnel to implement peer education activities, (4) providing technical assistance to the DSM and the Public Relations Administration to continue to implement a BCC campaign to promote HIV and STI prevention behaviors in addition to gender equality and a reduction of gender-based violence (GBV) among the Armed Forces, (5) providing technical support to the DSM in forecasting condom distribution targets, (6) collaborating with the DSM to establish a referral system that links military personnel and their families to HTC and STI screening, and from those services to appropriate clinical and psychosocial support services, (7) developing and implementing screening tools for identifying survivors of GBV, and (8) training military health personnel on providing HTC, screening clients for GBV, and providing survivor-centered counseling and referrals for clinical and psychosocial support.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 10, 2016
- Source ID
- N002441510018
Entities
People
- Julia Roberts