MSF enters HIV/AIDS fray with
treatment and advocacy
International staff: 6
National staff: 25
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In November 2001 the government passed the "Law on the
Prevention and Control of Infection caused by HIV," which
stipulates mandatory testing of employees and patients
(at the doctor's request) as well as criminal charges for
people who transmit the virus, including breastfeeding
mothers with no access to replacement milk. From its vantage
point of treating HIV-positive pregnant women, MSF
sees this law as opening the door to discrimination against
people living with the virus.
With an alliance of local NGOs, MSF is calling for review and
withdrawal of several articles in the new AIDS law, and is trying
to raise awareness of the law among international organizations
dealing with HIV/AIDS. MSF is also advocating for
Salvadorans' access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.
Cutting HIV transmission to babies
MSF's direct work to prevent mother to child transmission
of the disease is now in its second year. Over 80 mothers
and 90 babies had been treated by May 2002 in two
mother and child hospitals and 12 health posts in the
capital San Salvador. Seven or eight babies and mothers are
brought into the program each month. In addition to providing
ARVs for mothers and babies, MSF provides replacement
feeding for babies of mothers with HIV.
The MSF team also carries out, with national counterparts,
prenatal consultations, voluntary testing for HIV, pre- and
post-test counseling, and nutritional education.
In tandem, a condom marketing effort uses sexual health
education and condom distribution in 150 bars throughout
the country to try and prevent HIV transmission
between sex workers and their clients. MSF also advocates
for improved quality and access to medical assistance for
sex workers.
MSF worked in El Salvador from 1983 to 1992, during the
civil war, and returned at the end of 1998, in the aftermath
of Hurricane Mitch.
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