Linh Phan, Communications Manager, EpiC Vietnam Lan Ha Ngoc, Project Manager, Combating Trafficking in Persons, EpiC Vietnam Van Nguyen Thanh, Senior Technical Officer, Combating Trafficking in Persons, EpiC Vietnam In 2022, Hoang Thanh Thao, a social worker at the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, faced a serious professional dilemma. Four survivors of human trafficking walked into her office seeking help, and Thao grappled with a lack of skills to provide them with adequate care. “I felt helpless,” she said. Recognizing substantial gaps in knowledge and skil ..read more

On December 17, 2023, a youth art exhibit organized by the Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project was held at Meta House, an art centre based in Phnom Penh, as an extension of World AIDS Day celebrations. The exhibit focused on the innovations of young Cambodians in identifying rising HIV prevalence among young people (aged 15 to 24 years). It aimed to raise awareness on HIV testing and treatment; to empower and engage youth in the fight against HIV; and to increase community engagement and reduce stigma towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and ..read more

Mahesh Satraj, President, Integrated Network of Community Empowerment The death of a friend who had been unable to access essential HIV medicines and services, along with concern about the living conditions of some community members in the Vemulawada area of Karimnagar district, Telangana, compelled a group of us to establish the Integrated Network of Community Empowerment (INFOCEM). Our aim: To enhance the quality of life for vulnerable populations. Our key population-led organization was established in January 2020 with minimal funding. In our first year, we were able to reach 1,200 communit ..read more

Chris Akolo, Technical Director, HIV Department and EpiC, FHI 360 Caterina Casalini, Senior Technical Advisor Clinical Services, HIV Department, FHI 360 Danielle Darrow de Mora, Senior Technical Advisor, EpiC, FHI 360 Background While the world was still battling the COVID-19 pandemic, another global epidemic, mpox, emerged. Mpox is an illness caused by a virus that passes from person-to-person through close contact. Endemic to Central and West Africa for decades, mpox is classified into two distinct clades: Clade I, previously known as the Congo Basin/Central African clade; and Clade II, the ..read more

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Nigeria face a range of biological, behavioral, and structural factors that increase their risk of contracting HIV. These include social barriers that hinder young girls from negotiating safer sex and age-disparate sexual relationships, as well as socioeconomic disparities that contribute to low school completion rates, limited participation in key economic sectors, and a lack of involvement in economic decision-making. As a result, a large proportion of new HIV infections each year occur among AGYW. A higher proportion of new infections occur in AGYW ..read more

Hally Mahler, HIV Department Director and EpiC Project Director, FHI 360 Kenisha Jefferson, Technical Advisor, FHI 360, Washington, DC December 1st is a day to reflect and raise awareness on the HIV epidemic. This year’s World AIDS Day theme, Let Communities Lead, focuses on the essential and central role of communities in ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030. Communities are essential in promoting HIV prevention, facilitating testing, and helping people living with HIV stay on treatment. They deliver essential HIV services, reaching those that public sector and donor-driven programs o ..read more

Dr. Naa Ashiley Vanderpuye-Donton, Chief Executive Officer, West Africa AIDS Foundation Maggie McCarten-Gibbs, Senior Technical Officer, FHI 360 After losing his first son to sickle cell disease at the age of seven, Eddie Donton decided he wanted to make a difference for those suffering from chronic conditions. In 1994, he founded Care One Hospice in California, where he was living at the time. This was at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and Care One Hospice became one of the centers caring for AIDS patients. Donton and his team learned about the diverse needs of people living with HI ..read more

Agness John, Senior Technical Officer, FHI 360, EpiC Tanzania Samwel Daniel, Technical Officer, FHI 360, EpiC Tanzania Aziz Itaka, Regional Manager, FHI 360, EpiC Tanzania In Tanzania, key and vulnerable populations — including people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, and female sex workers — continue to experience high HIV prevalence rates, propelled by gender-based violence, stigma, and criminalization. Those in key and vulnerable populations experience harassment, exploitation, violence, and other human rights abuses from family, community members, and service providers, includin ..read more

The Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project is excited to participate in the 22nd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe, and virtually, where our staff and partners will share innovative practices, new research, and programmatic evidence on HIV prevention, care, and treatment. SATELLITE SESSIONSHow we can provide dignified, diverse, equitable and inclusive services and reduce stigma and discrimination in the healthcare setting (Why do we need a renewed focus on S&D in the health sector) Tuesday, December 5, 2023 |14:05–14:50 CA ..read more

Sandra Georges, EpiC Project Director, FHI 360 Lambert Koffi Avekpa, Senior Program Officer, FHI 360 Marius Kouamé, Biomedical Engineer, FHI 360 Daniel Ngotta, Senior Technical Advisor, Capacity Building, FHI 360 Yolande Yahi, Procurement Officer, FHI 360 Surges in demand for medical oxygen during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed gaps in Côte d’Ivoire’s ability to keep up with supply. In response to medical oxygen shortages during the height of the pandemic, the government of Côte d’Ivoire has prioritized strengthening the country’s medical oxygen ecosystem. While some oxygen infrastructure, inc ..read more