International Activity Report 2004
Honduras

International staff: 7
National Staff: 37

Helping those living with HIV/AIDS

Honduras is home to 60 percent of the people living with HIV/AIDS in Central America. For this reason, in August 2001, MSF set up a clinic in the town of Tela, located in northern Honduras, to offer complete treatment for opportunistic infections that often manifest in HIVpositive people. MSF also began prevention efforts, counseling, patient monitoring, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus and community visits. In July 2002, these efforts were supplemented by the use of life-extending antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. By June 2004, 200 people were receiving ARV therapy through MSF's program.

This project was started within the framework of MSF's campaign to increase access to essential medicines for people living in poor countries. MSF's initiative was a first step in demonstrating that it is possible to make progress against AIDS in a country such as Honduras. Other actors, including the Honduran government and the Global Fund on AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, have now promised nearly US$45 million to provide care and treatment for those with the disease. With funding available and adequate political will and staff present to implement the program, MSF is now handing over its HIV/AIDS activities to local health authorities.

In addition, MSF is exploring the needs of poor, homeless children living in violenceridden areas of the capital, Tegucigalpa. By conducting qualitative and quantitative research, the organization plans to better define and respond to the needs of these neglected children.

MSF has worked in Honduras since 1998.