Text: USAID Awards HIV/AIDS Grants to Local Organizations in 20 Countries

25 February 2002

Text: USAID Awards HIV/AIDS Grants to Local Organizations in 20 Countries

Community-based organizations seen as key to prevention, patient care

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Andrew S. Natsios announced February 19 that 29 community organizations in 20 nations have been selected to receive grants to engage in HIV/AIDS prevention programs and patient treatment initiatives.

The grants, all under $5,000, are the first to be rewarded under the Communities Responding to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic (CORE) Initiative, first announced in December 2001.

"These small grants can go a long way toward helping local communities in the fight against HIV/AIDS," Natsios said.

USAID has a budget of $435 million for HIV/AIDS programs this year.

Following is the text of the USAID press release:

(begin text)

THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

USAID Announces Recipients of HIV/AIDS Grants

PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
February 19, 2002

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Andrew S. Natsios today announced 29 recipients of grants through USAID's CORE (Communities Responding to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic) Initiative. The CORE Initiative grants are designed to provide small, community-based organizations with funding for HIV prevention programs and to care for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Speaking at the "Prescription for Hope" conference, sponsored by Samaritan's Purse, Administrator Natsios said, "These small grants can go a long way toward helping local communities in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The war on AIDS will be a long and arduous one, but with the help of people and organizations like yours, it is a war that we ultimately will win."

Millions of people in developing countries are affected by HIV/AIDS with hundreds of millions more at risk of infection. The values and activities promoted by faith-based groups such as promoting abstinence, committed relationships based on fidelity, and supporting educational programs are meaningful contributions in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Typically, faith-based institutions operate much of a developing country's health care infrastructure such as clinics, hospitals, and teaching facilities. As USAID expands its work in care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS, community and faith-based organizations will be essential partners in providing voluntary counseling and testing, home care, clinical services, and delivering advanced treatment.

USAID's CORE Initiative was announced last year on World AIDS Day. This initiative is one component in USAID's comprehensive HIV/AIDS program. This year, USAID's budget for HIV/AIDS is $435 million. To date the agency has spent more than $2 billion in the fight against the pandemic. For more information on USAID's HIV/AIDS programs see: http://www.usaid.gov/pop_health/aids/index.html

USAID is the government agency that has provided humanitarian assistance and economic development worldwide for 40 years.

The grants awarded today are for less than $5000 each, and the 29 recipients were selected from a large pool of applicants. The following organizations were awarded small grants through USAID's CORE Initiative:

Bangladesh: Organization of Development Program for Underprivileged

Brazil: Associacao de Acao Sloidario

Burkina Faso: Vigilance

Burundi: Episcopal Church of Burundi, Diocese of Gitega

Democratic Republic of Congo: Orphans Development Program International

Ecuador: Fundacion Augustin Tomala -- SIM

Ethiopia: Food for the Hungry International-Ethiopia

Ghana: Africa Rural Medical Aid Foundation Project Hagar

India: Association for People Living with AIDS & HIV Infection; Self Employed Welfare Association

Jamaica: Christ Church Anglican in Kingston

Kenya: Hope Africa Women Organization; Jitegemee Youth Group; Pioneer Players Puppetry Group

Malawi: Livingstonia Synod AIDS Control Program

Nigeria: Federation of Muslim Women's Association in Nigeria; Ogoni Youth Development Project

Rwanda: EER/Diocese of Kigali

South Africa: Phaphamani Home Based Care; Rob Smetherham Bereavement Service for Children

Thailand: Life Development Centre

Uganda: Center for Recreation, Education and Appropriate Training; Society of Women and and AIDS in Africa-Uganda; Center of Resocialization of Chemically Dependent

Ukraine: Hope and Salvation

Zambia: Women's Missionary Society of Southwest Zambia

Zimbabwe: Uzumba Orphan Trust

(end text)