USAID's health program focuses on HIV/AIDS prevention, increasing healthy behavior among most at risk populations; voluntary counseling and testing; and condom use and reduction of sexual partners through regional and bilateral programs.
USAID implements the following HIV/AIDS programs in Nicaragua:
The Health Care Improvement Project (HCI/URC) and the AIDS Prevention (PrevenSida/URC) Program target health system strengthening with in-service and pre-service training, reducing stigma and discrimination in 11 health centers in areas with the highest prevalence rates. They also promote comprehensive high-quality services and institutional strengthening to 20 local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in HIV/AIDS that provide services to people living with AIDS and most at risk populations.
The programs actively participate in the HIV/AIDS national response while working to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with the disease among health service providers. USAID technical assistance to expand and improve health services provided include: 1) health personnel trained in voluntary testing and counseling, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, stigma and discrimination; and 2) new primary health units that provide voluntary counseling and testing. USAID also targets seven Health Districts with the highest rates of Tuberculosis (TB) to improve TB-HIV co-infection healthcare services.
The AIDS Prevention Program also addresses gender issues in dealing with HIV/AIDS and improves access to preventive services for sexual minorities, including the transgender population, homosexuals, bisexuals and sex workers.
Last updated: October 19, 2015