FHI - Ford Foundation Project Expands HIV Prevention and Care Services in Cairo

DECEMBER 2007 — The Ford Foundation has awarded FHI a two-year project to provide HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support services for most-at-risk populations (MARPs) in Cairo. The Ford Foundation is supporting the partnership between FHI and a selected NGO that concentrates on building its capacity to conduct street-based outreach for MARPs and the establishment of a comprehensive care center.

By connecting comprehensive care with street-based outreach, the project will facilitate early detection of and care for HIV and AIDS cases.

The comprehensive care center will provide psychosocial and basic medical services for MARPs referred through street-based outreach, along with comprehensive care for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, since they and their families have medical, psychological, socioeconomic, and other needs.

Services at the center will include HIV/AIDS care, peer education, individual and group counseling, needs-based referrals, and HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT). To avert new infections, care and treatment services must be closely linked with prevention efforts.

FHI and the selected NGO will encourage voluntary and anonymous HIV testing for MARPs, with appropriate needs-based referrals to care and support services. The project will link individuals with advanced stages of HIV infection to treatment programs.

VCT is a powerful force for prevention, since it motivates individuals who test HIV-negative to maintain their status and change risky behaviors. At the same time, VCT is important entry point to care and treatment programs, and offers opportunities to counsel HIV-positive individuals on reducing risky behaviors—a crucial step in arresting the spread of the virus.

The availability of care and treatment services promotes testing and reinforces prevention activities. A combination of prevention, testing, treatment, and support services allows for early identification and management of HIV infections.
Since there is no other center in Egypt where an NGO provides comprehensive HIV and AIDS care, FHI will work closely with the NGO to document progress and lessons learned and enhance the replication of services through Egypt and the Middle East region. If the project is successful, the NGO will serve as a resource for NGOs throughout the region.