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Health Program Overview

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OverviewProgram Description

 

A doctor prescribing anti-retroviral medication to his patient, a small part of the work USAID does to curb the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa.Southern Africa is more severely affected by HIV/AIDS than any other region in the world. The burden of the epidemic is staggering. In at least six southern African countries, more than one in every five people is infected with HIV/AIDS; in Botswana and Swaziland nearly two out of three adults may be infected. Working through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), USAID provides treatment, prevention, health system strengthening, and support for orphans and vulnerable children, and improved capacity of regional organizations.

 
Through funding from the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),
USAID/SA works in 10 southern African countries with PEPFAR teams, regional organizations, institutions, and donors, helping to mitigate the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, delivering quality technical and programmatic assistance throughout the region with a focus on the following priority areas: (1) Health systems strengthening and human resources; (2) Strengthening regional prevention activities, especially in response to the needs of migrant populations, including vulnerable children; (3) Health service delivery, with an emphasis on palliative care; (4) the development and use of strategic information; and (5) the collection, exchange, and dissemination of HIV/AIDS related information across the region.