Heartland Alliance International (HAI) began working in Côte d’Ivoire in 2010, providing high-quality, stigma-free health care to key populations at risk for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, including men who have sex with men, sex workers, and their partners.
Background
In Côte d’Ivoire, 460,000 people are estimated to be living with HIV, reflecting 3.2% of the population.1,2 Key populations – including sex workers and men who have sex with men – are at higher risk, with HIV rates ranging from 11-18% in these groups.3,4 These groups often face stigma and discrimination that prevents them from accessing HIV services.3
Programs
High Quality Stigma-Free Care: HAI partners with peer-led grassroots organizations to provide HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection (STI) care for key populations, including men who have sex with men and sex workers. Through one-on-one and group discussions, trained peer educators provide information about risk reduction and facilitate behavior change. Peer educators also promote promoting lubricant and condom use, HIV testing and care, and STI screening and treatment.
Impact
Since 2010, HAI has:
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Tested more than 78,500 sex workers, men who have sex with men, and other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and treated more than 44,000 individuals for STIs |
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Distributed more than 8.4 million male condoms, 1 million female condoms, and 3.3 million lubricant gels to key populations |
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Partnered with 3 peer-led organizations and 19 local NGOs to provide care to highly marginalized groups |
“I tested a sex worker [for HIV] and when her results came back positive, she got angry with me. Once she accepted her status, she started antiretroviral therapy and got her disease under control. Since then, she’s been grateful to me for saving her life. We have become friends, and I am proud to have saved a life and gained a friendship.”
–Peer educator in San Pedro