Project HOPE Partners with PEPFAR in Namibia to Pave the Way for an AIDS-free future for Girls
Millwood, VA (September 26, 2018) – Project HOPE, a global health development and humanitarian relief organization, announced today its partnership with Project HOPE Namibia and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement the DREAMS project in Namibia aimed at preventing HIV transmission among girls and young women.
The five-year DREAMS program in Namibia, which aspires to create an AIDS-free future for girls, is led by Project HOPE Namibia and funded by PEPFAR through USAID, and aims to avert new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women. It will contribute to Namibia’s National Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS and the National Agenda for Children, specifically focused on strengthening programs to protect adolescent girls and young women from HIV infection by ensuring they are educated, healthy, economically and socially empowered, and free from violence and discrimination.
By building capacity in the community, we will also help bring adolescents girls and young women’s health, safety, educational and economic needs to the forefront of discussions and move the dial on gender equality.
“We are very proud to work with Project HOPE Namibia, a local entity we have supported for more than 10 years, as well as PEPFAR and Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ministry for Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service. This project is a critical step for Namibian communities as it will enable and motivate a range of Namibian service providers to better protect adolescent girls and young women from HIV infection,” said Tom Kenyon, M.D., M.P.H., CEO and Chief Medical Officer at Project HOPE.
“By building capacity in the community, we will also help bring adolescents girls and young women’s health, safety, educational and economic needs to the forefront of discussions and move the dial on gender equality,” he added.
The program will serve the Oshikoto region as well as provide HIV mitigation activities to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in the Khomas and Zambezi regions.
Project HOPE has been fighting to reduce the HIV burden in Africa since 1989. We help to strengthen the capacity of local governments and organizations to mitigate the effects of HIV through innovative, people-centered interventions. Our programs aim to improve HIV prevention, detection, treatment and adherence. Primarily focused in Africa, our HIV programs have also reached countries in Europe and Eurasia, Southeastern Asia and Latin America. Our work in HIV has included partnerships with USAID, Global Fund and other public and private organizations.
About Project HOPE
Founded in 1958, Project HOPE is a leader in global health and humanitarian relief programs. An international nonprofit organization, we are committed to transforming lives and uplifting communities by empowering health care workers to teach and deliver innovative, lifesaving solutions, every day and in times of crisis. With programs in 25 countries, we work at the epicenter of today’s greatest health challenges including infectious and noncommunicable diseases; disasters and health crises; maternal, neonatal and child health; and the policies that impact how health care is delivered. Learn more at www.projecthope.org.