Haiti (MNN) — A partnership that started in June 2007 is seeing success in Haiti.
World Hope International, funded by USAID, partnered with six organizations in Haiti that were already doing successful HIV/AIDS interventions. This formed Haitian Partners for Health. World Hope is mentoring these organizations as they implement programming and receive funding from USAID.
Jenee Parker said, "We are working to build capacity within the country so that these organizations can then move for it on their own, without further support, to run their own
programs, and build on their knowledge base, and build on their skills, and really build on the strong networks they have in the community."
For many of the organizations, they have never received outside funding. This requires management skills and knowledge of rules and regulations, which World Hope is helping them with.
Those networks are key as they do their care services to those affected by HIV, as well as doing
preventative programs. Churches are just one network. "They have this established rapport which provides an open door to provide services to those that are HIV
positive or to bring the message of prevention and so forth to people in the community." Community members feel more comfortable in these settings with this form of outreach.
They plan to scale up existing programs in order to reach 32,450 people with a message of
prevention for HIV. They also want to counsel and test 10,500 people for HIV among other goals.
The response thus far has been positive. "They've hired new staff, they've started up new activities. Some are actually working in the local schools and using prevention curriculum to bring the message of prevention to youth," said Parker.
"Many of them are young organizations, but they're very eager to grow and learn more," she added.
Working in a setting of poverty requires creativity and determination. This new partnership has goals beyond its first year to continue mobilizing the HPH so future generations can see the
impact of these programs.
