DHAPP works with the United Nations to provide HIV prevention education worldwide.
Last week, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to continue encouraging the incorporation of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support during international peacekeeping operations. Resolution 1983 (2011) comes a decade after the Security Council passed Resolution 1308, the first resolution relating to HIV as a threat to international peace and security.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice stated that in the last 10 years our knowledge about how HIV/AIDS impacts security has evolved. Peacekeepers, once thought to be possible vectors of transmission of HIV/AIDS, are now playing a unique role as their interactions with communities provide ideal opportunities to address HIV vulnerability.
Rice noted the Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program’s (DHAPP) works with over 70 partner militaries worldwide, which has resulted in the testing and counseling of nearly three million partner troops. DHAPP has assisted militaries in establishing and maintaining HIV prevention, care and treatment programs for service members, their dependents and surrounding communities for the past 10 years.
DHAPP’s work with militaries ensures troops from UN donor countries are well-versed in HIV prevention methods prior to deployment in peacekeeping missions. DHAPP also works with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) as a member of the Global Uniformed Services Task Force on HIV (USTF) which focuses on HIV initiatives for all uniformed services.