Aid for AIDS

Accomplishments

2009

• Incorporation of the Cuanto Sabes de HIV y Sida? program into the public education systems of Colombia, Panama, Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
• Formed partnerships with key members of the educational infrastructures in those four countries who have expressed interest in replicating the Cuanto Sabes? program and expanding the types of offerings in the area of HIV and AIDS prevention. Among our partners are the Department of Education (MEDUCA) in Panama; the office of the Secretary of Health and Municipal Education in Santiago and Cali, Colombia; and the Directors of Education in the states of Aragua and Miranda in Venezuela.
• Trained 1,120 professors and 12,360 peer educators as facilitators in the prevention of HIV and AIDS in the four countries.
• Trained 208 doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers in the Dominican Republic and Chile, under AFAI’s Medical Training Program.
• Sent a total of $5.8 million worth of free, life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) medication to 2,500 needy recipients in 37 countries.
• Enhanced our position in the Latin American and Caribbean as the only non-government organization (NGO) providing a 3rd line of ARV therapy (the Global Fund has been providing 1st and 2nd line ARV therapy since 2004).
• AFAI’s Observatorio Latino initiative, which provides an online forum for more than 5,000 people to monitor the use of funds from the Global Fund to fight HIV and AIDS, was selected as an accredited observer in the Latin America/Caribbean region to watch over meetings of the Global Fund’s Board of Directors.
• The Women and HIV/AIDS Observatory, which has been operating in Peru since 2008, created a monitoring board with the participation of organization and local women’s groups. This board is working to identify priorities related to women’s access to health care, the quality of services provided by health care centers and domestic violence as it impacts women with HIV or AIDS.
• Strategic alliances to enhance AFAI’s advocacy efforts were formed with several leading organizations, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); UNAIDS; the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO); the Clinton Foundation; the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO); and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

2008

• Sent $5.8 million worth of ARV medications to needy recipients in 33 countries. Donations came from individuals, clinics, hospitals and community-based organizations in 43 states.
• Universal Treatment Access Initiative started this year with its first large donation of generic ARV medication. The donation was sufficient to provide 2,000 people with first-line ARV medication, which was distributed in Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Belize, Costa Rica and Honduras. Most of the recipients were members of “mobile populations,” or people who tend to move from one place to another, temporarily, seasonably or permanently.
• AFAI began collaboration with the Clinton Foundation’s HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) to redistribute surplus medications before their expiration dates. To salvage as much surplus medication as possible under this partnership, AFAI created the Global Redistribution Program (GRP). Surplus medications are identified by CHAI team members, and AFAI staff then work to get as much of those drugs as possible to countries experiencing stock-outs or shortages.
• The Cuanto Sabes de VIH y SIDA? program trained a new cadre of 311 peer educators, who in turn imparted the health message to about 60,000 other teenagers in seven countries. Each of AFAI’s four satellite offices – the Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru and Venezuela – reported significant strides in bringing needed services to people living with HIV or Aids. Panama, for example, started a Children’s Program after receiving a donation of space at Children’s Hospital.
• The New York Immigrant AIDS Link (NYIAL) enrolled 120 new un-duplicated clients, bringing the total number of NYIAL clients to 350 at year-end. During the year, AFAI collaborated with multiple non-profits in the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens to bring a full range of tailored assistance services to our clients.

2007

• January, International; People en Español names Executive Director, Jesús Aguais as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States.
• February, Central America: First Lady of Panama, Vivian Fernando de Torrijos, helps launch AFAI’s newest initiative, the Universal Treatment Access Initiative (UTAI).
• UTAI provides antiretroviral medication to each of the 7 countries in Central America, focusing treatment on mobile populations, prisoners, and the indigenous.
• Officially launch, Observatorio Latino, as a group to oversee how governments and civil society use money donated to their countries by the Global Fund.
• April, Geneva; Observatorio Latino is invited to participate as an observer at the 15th Board Meeting of the Global Fund.
• June, New York; AFAI begins its “Donaciones por Volumen” program, donating recycled medication not being used by ATAP clients to governments, NGOs, or Hospitals in developing countries.
• June, New York; The New York Immigrant AIDS Link (NYIAL) at AFAI begins collaborating with the Legal Aid Society, offering free consultations for AFAI clients needing assistance with immigration issues.
• June, New York; Sign Memorandum of Understanding with the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, formally acknowledging a collaboration to reduce the amount of surplus medication by redistributing unused antiretrovirals from one country to another.
• September, International; Jesús Aguais featured as one of CNN’s Heroes, in the “Medical Marvel” category. This special showcases ordinary people doing extraordinary work around the world, and Jesús’ pieces were aired on CNN, CNN en Español, Headline News, and CNN.com.
• October, International; Jesús Aguais names as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the United States, by Hispanic Business magazine. New York; 80 NYIAL clients receive legal services from the Legal Aid Society, resolving many of their immigration problems.
• New York; Donaciones por Volumen donates over $500,000 worth of antiretroviral medication to organizations in 8 different countries.
• New York; NYIAL establishes and maintains bi-monthly support groups for people living with HIV and AIDS. Separate groups exist for women, men who have sex with men, and heterosexual men.
• Granted a wing at the Children’s Hospital in Panama City, to provide services specifically for children living with HIV and AIDS or directly affected by the epidemic.
• The Cuanto Sabes de VIH y SIDA prevention program expands to include 2 new countries: Colombia and Ecuador.
• AFA Miami begins providing prevention services to the Colombian, Guatemalan, Bolivian, Costa Rican, Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Panamanian consulates.
• UTAI redistributes almost a quarter of a million dollars worth of antiretroviral medication, most of which is pediatric formularies.

2006

• November, New York City; Executive Director, Jesús Aguais, honored during the 3rd Annual El Awards, selected by El Diario La Prensa.
• November, Guatemala; Present a new initiative, Observatorio Latino, at the 14th Board Meeting of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
• December, Dominican Republic; In recognition of World AIDS Day, AFAI coordinates: Un Batazo Contra SIDA, a day-long workshop for 4,000 youth, celebrating prevention efforts to fight HIV and AIDS in their country.
• June and August, New York City; Each month the Recycling Program collects more than 1,000 bottles of unused, unexpired antiretroviral medication.
• August, Toronto; Poster presentation, entitled “The Efficacy of a US Based Medicine Recycling Program Delivering Antiretroviral Agents to Patients Living in 25 Countries Worldwide: An Outcomes Analysis of the Access Treatment Program (ATAP) at AID FOR AIDS International”, at the XVI International AIDS Conference.
• AFAI opens office in Miami and Panama City, Panama.
• The Cuanto Sabes de VIH y SIDA prevention program is operating in 9 countries in Latin America, reaching more than 36,000 adolescents and training almost 350 peer educators.

2005

• November; El Salvador; Acts as a facilitator for civil society during a discussion issues concerning the programs financed by the Global Fund to Fight ADS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
• A youth prevention program is piloted in Venezuela. This program, later titled “Cuanto Sabes de VIH y SIDA”, is currently operating in 6 different countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• The “Be A Hero” marketing campaign is launched to increase recycled medication in the United States. The campaign urges doctors, clinics, people living with HIV and AIDS, and others with access to antiretroviral medication, to donate unused, unexpired prescriptions.
• Initiate the Doctors’ Training Program to educate and train doctors in Latin America and the Caribbean on how to manage and treat their patients living with HIV and AIDS.
• December, Colombia; Celebrated World AIDS Day by arranging and leading a discussion on HIV and AIDS prevention with 2,600 teenagers.

2004

• AFAI launched its Advocacy Program, which is now operating in every country in Latin America. The Advocacy Program assists those fighting for the rights of other in the region.
• Through the Advocacy Program, AFAI signs an agreement with the Mexican General Consulate in New York City, to provide services to the Mexican community in the city.

2003

• Cuba; Trina Maria Aguais, Director of Operations for Latin America and the Caribbean, presents at FORO 2003. Oral presentation entitled: “Program for Children Living with HIV and AIDS” (title translated).
• AID FOR AIDS sends medication worth more than $5 million to Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa, operating on an annual budget of $240,000.

2002

• December; AFAI and the AIDSETTI organization (from the United Nations) formally establish a collaborative effort to expand treatment access efforts in Africa.
• AFAI sends recycled medication worth more than $4 million to Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa, operating on an annual budget of $174,000.
• June, Netherlands; Executive Director, Jesús Aguais, presents at the Expert Consultation Conference, “Increasing the use of antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings: options for reducing the obstacles”, organized by the International AIDS Society.
• July, Spain; AFAI presents at the XIV International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain. Poster presentation entitled: “Recycling Works! The Collection and Redistribution of Unused Antiretrovirals”.

2001

• AFAI sends recycled medication worth more than $3 million to Latin America and the Caribbean, operating on an annual budget of $154,000.

2000

• July, South Africa; AFAI presents at the XIII International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa. Poster presentation entitled: “The Efficacy of a Medicine Recycling Program”.
• November, Brazil; Executive Director, Jesús Aguais, gives oral presentation at FORO 2000. Presentation entitled: “AID FOR AIDS and the Use of Recycled Medication as an Alternative Treatment for People Living with HIV and AIDS in Developing Countries” (title translated).

1999

• January; AFAI opens an office in Lima, Peru.
• March; AFAI opens an office in Santiago, Chile.
• November; AFAI opens an office in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

1998

• March, Venezuela; AFAI sponsored a conference where, for the first time, community activists, people living with HIV, physicians, and health ministries participated in a day of discussions and presentations.
• August; AFAI opens an office in Los Teques, Venezuela.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributing authors: Tim Horn, Jaime Valencia, Alfredo Delgado, Trina Maria Aguais, and Carlos Moega.