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HIV/AIDS Project Background

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was recipient of support via the Ministry of Health’s National HIV /AIDS prevention and control project being implemented by the Health Sector Development Unit (HSDU).

The national  project was conceptualized based on the National Strategic Plan for HIV / AIDS, 2002-2006 and the government’s plan to develop a 5-year multi-sector HIV / AIDS Prevention and Control Project with the objective being: “To slow the spread of HIV infection and mitigate the socio-economic impact of HIV / AIDS.” The project was supported by the World Bank and included special consideration for Indigenous people to “To ensure that indigenous peoples do not suffer adverse effects during the development process, particularly from Bank-financed projects and those they receive are culturally compatible with social and economic benefits.” This was done through prevention, training and capacity building and Outreach.

The intended milestone for each intervention was as follows:

Objective
To conduct HIV/AIDS awareness sessions wherever Amerindian people will be given the opportunity to be exposed to the dangers of the HIV/AIDS problem and threats to their livelihood with the view of preventing and controlling the transmission of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

The specific interventions accomplished during 2009 are as follows;

1. Peace Corps:  Peace Corps has signed a MOU with MOAA to provide a volunteer for a period of nine months, ending in July 2010 to work with the Hinterland Scholarship programme. The Volunteer is expected to develop a sustainable SRH programme within the scholarship programme
2. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is partnering with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to guide the project finalization and subsequent monitoring of its Hinterland Initiative in s 1 and 9. Three agencies were successful in receiving grant funds from CDC to address HIV/AIDS in the two s. The grant is for a five year period
3. UNICEF is supporting the establishment of Youth Friendly Spaces in scholarship students’ dormitories on the coastland and hinterland areas, operated by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs

Summary of progress

1. A total of 3,154 people from forty one villages in seven s have been sensitized on the effects and dangers of HIV/AIDS and other health related issues. During 2009 the programme was expanded to include Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and the threats including HIV/AIDS to the livelihood of Amerindian people and staff.  In addition, special attention to provide support to the scholarship students who are considered to be highly vulnerable, moving from small humble communities to the harsh environment on the coastland of Guyana were given.  In an effort to provide the needed support a study involving the students is being conducted to ascertain their vulnerabilities.  A support system is also being developed for staff as a human resource asset. A Staff Empowerment Space (SES) was established and a draft policy was developed as a guide to staff interaction in the working environment. 
2. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has collaborated with the Ministry of Education to jointly conduct workshops for teachers of eleven villages in the upper Mazaruni district, 7 and eight villages of the Aishalton sub-district 9 to integrate SRH into the Ministry of Education’s Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) curriculum in primary and secondary schools.
3. Further, the Ministry of Home Affairs joined with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to conduct awareness sessions on Trafficking in Person in two cluster communities: Annai (involving 11 other villages) and in Aishalton (involving eight other villages).
4. The specific interventions accomplished during 2009 are as follows:

Peace Corps:  Peace Corps has signed a MOU with MOAA to provide a volunteer for a period of nine months, ending in July 2010 to work with the Hinterland Scholarship programme. The Volunteer is expected to develop a sustainable SRH programme within the scholarship programme.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC): is partnering with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to guide the project finalization and subsequent monitoring of its Hinterland Initiative in s 1 and 9. Three agencies were successful in receiving grant funds from CDC to address HIV/AIDS in the two s. The grant is for a five year period. 

UNICEF: is supporting the establishment of Youth Friendly Spaces in scholarship students’ dormitories on the coastland and hinterland areas, operated by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
Testing for the HIV was also done during 2008 and 2009. Two locations were involved: the Amerindian hostel and the head office of the Ministry.

A comparison between the number of persons tested at the Ministry’s location during 2008 and 2009 is demonstrated din the tables below. The table clearly shows that there was a 68 percent increase in the number of persons tested at the various locations of the Ministry during the testing period.

The Ministry also participated in HIV / AIDS awareness “WALK” organized by the Focal Points of the Line Ministries. There were 36 participants for the Ministry for the Amerindian Affairs Ministry.

Staff of the Ministry at the HIV/Aids Awareness Walk

Participants at a HIV/Aids workshop organised by the Ministry’s Focal Point

Villages visited with the HIV / AIDS Message