Why?
The purpose of the project is to contribute to the reduction of the spread of HIV and mitigate its impact among people living with HIV, orphans and vulnerable children, and youth, to increase safe HIV prevention practices among the Most at High Risk Population, and to increase access to community based HIV/AIDS home based care/ support services for people living with HIV. Although the HIV epidemic in Ethiopia is stabilising, the changes are not sufficient, due to the large number of infected people, as well as to the low levels of knowledge about HIV and a high prevalence of unprotected sex through multiple partners and intergenerational transactional sex. Orphans and other children affected by HIV are increasingly taken out of school and drawn into adult responsibilities, and therefore deprived of a chance for a full, healthy, and productive life. Furthermore, the children are also more exposed to risks such as STIs, HIV, child prostitution and early marriages. Sidama, Wolayita, Gamo Gofa and South West Shoa. The South West Shoa zone falls under Oromia region, while the other three are situated in the Southern Nation Nationalities People Region (SNNPR). A total of nine districts will be targeted during the project period.
What?
The Red Cross will support and facilitate peer education, community conversations, and community- and self-support groups against stigma, provide care and support for orphans and vulnerable children, and for people living with HIV, provide livelihood and food support for people living with HIV, strengthen the visibility and the HIV response capacity of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.
Who?
This project targets orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), people living with HIV (PLHIV), youth, commercial sex workers (CSW), and prisoners.