The Guyana HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project on Wednesday launched the new HIV/AIDS subprojects civil society programme, inking 20 pacts for subprojects to be implemented countrywide.
The official launching was held at the Demerara Mutual Life Insurance Company’s conference room. The Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were signed by representatives of the 20 non-governmental organizations.
The civil society project has so far provided funding and technical support to NGOs, faith-based organizations and community-based organizations in three separate rounds of funding in 2005, 2006 and 2007, following public calls for proposals. Forty-three sub-projects across Guyana have received support, 21 of which have been completed.
Along with the fourth batch of organizations signing MOUs for sub-projects on Wednesday, 16 current implementers renewed contracts and six new partners joined the fight. These organizations are also being supported through the provision of technical guidance from the National AIDS Programme Secretariat. The subprojects which are valued at $121 million are expected to be implemented over the next 12 months.
According to Executive Director of the Health Sector Development Unit, Ministry of Health, Keith Burrowes, the sub-project will target areas such as the Essequibo Coast and Islands, Bartica/Upper Cuyuni and Mazaruni River, Sophia, Lethem, Annai, Sand Creek, Aishalton, Mahdia, Kurupung, Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma, Ayanganna, Timehri and several other interior locations.
The project, Burrowes said, was aimed at raising AIDS awareness among orphans and vulnerable children, indigenous communities, miners and loggers, at-risk youths, the armed forces, employers/workplaces, teachers and the general population.
Organizations benefiting from this project include the President’s Youth Award of Guyana, Linden Care Foundation, Iwokrama International Centre, the Family Planning Association of Guyana, the Guyana Geology and Mines Com-mission, and the Guyana Defence Force Credit Union. Burrowes said the engagement partners have been critical in helping to reach the needs of infected and affected, disadvantaged, vulnerable and most at risk populations. He added that there have been significant achievements by the project to date since its commencement in 2003, both in strengthening the health sector facilities and systems and through the creation of partnerships with sub-implementers.
The Guyana HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project is a five-year project currently being implemented by the Health Sector Development Unit, Ministry of Health.
The project commenced in 2003 as part of the World Bank Multi-Country Adaptable Lending Pro-gramme to support the Caribbean Regional Strategic Plan of Action for HIV/AIDS.
