International Activity Report 2005
Honduras

International Staff: 5
National Staff: 31

Children and young people constitute a particularly vulnerable group within the Honduran population. Those who are poor, homeless and living in an urban area are often victims of violence.

In April 2005, MSF, in cooperation with local organizations, started a program to assist street children and youth in the capital city, Tegucigalpa. Currently, about 30 street children visit the center each day, with approximately 400 extremely poor children between the ages of a few months to 24 years, registered in the program. MSF's medical assistance includes psychological care as well as a program of recreational and socio-education activities. Special emphasis is placed on addressing girls' and adolescents' sexual and reproductive health needs due to their risk of pregnancy, commercial sex exploitation, violence and sexually transmitted infections. MSF conducts approximately 15 medical consultations each day.

In 2001, MSF began offering care to people living with HIV/AIDS in the town of Tela on the northern coast of Honduras. The project aimed to support the community's response to the country's HIV/AIDS crisis and to broaden the range of available services by including key public and community service providers in the provision of HIV care and prevention efforts. Today the Honduran ministry of health has 20 HIV/ AIDS treatment centers in the country offering comprehensive care including ARV treatment. In June 2005, MSF transferred responsibility for this project to three clinics in the area. MSF will monitor the program until mid-2006 to ensure that patients receive treatment.

MSF has worked in Honduras since 1998.