THE Guyana HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project (GAPCP) is a five-year project currently being implemented by the Health Sector Development Unit, Ministry of Health. The project commenced in 2003 as part of the World Bank Multi-Country Adaptable Lending Programme to support the Caribbean Regional Strategic Plan of Action for HIV/AIDS.

There have been significant achievements by the Project to date, both in the strengthening of the health sector facilities and systems and through the creation of partnerships with sub-implementers including civil society organisations and line ministries to scale up prevention and care services and to mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS.

The engagement of these partners have been critical in helping to reach the needs of infected and affected, disadvantaged, vulnerable and most at risk populations. Several line ministries, semi-autonomous agencies, private sector agencies, non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations and community-based organisations have partnered with the Ministry of Health under this project to deliver target and community driven responses.

The Civil Society Component has thus far provided funding and technical support to NGOs, FBOs and CBOs in three separate rounds of funding in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Through public calls for proposals 43 sub-projects across Guyana have received support, 21 of which have been completed. Today, a fourth batch of organisations will sign MOUs for new sub-projects --16 of existing implementers, will renew contracts and 6 new partners will join the fight.

The organisations implementing HIV sub-projects are also supported through the provision of technical guidance from the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, capacity building on several fronts to improve implementation quality and organisational efficiency and governance, reporting and accountability and to enhance long term sustainability. Sub-projects reports on a monthly basis which are audited on a regular basis throughout the projects.

The various Programmes will target orphans and vulnerable children, indigenous communities, miners and loggers, at-risk youth, the armed forces, employers/ workplaces, teachers and the general population. A number of faith-based organisations will implement faith and culture-sensitive awareness programmes.

Sub-projects will target areas such as the Essequibo Coast & Islands, Bartica/ Upper Cuyuni & Mazaruni River, Sophia, Lethem, Annai, Sand Creek, Aishalton, Mahdia, Kurupung, Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma, Ayanganna, Timehri, Seweyo, Coomacka, Linden, Mabaruma, Morawhanna, Etheringbang, Benab, Pakaraimas, Makouria, Tacama, Soesdyke, Kuru Kuru, Huraruni Village, Loo Creek, Ruimveldt, Cove & John, Jawalla, Quibinang, Imbaimadai, Abau, Kambaro Bethany-Capoey, Pauriama, Waramadong, Kamarang & Warwata, Shulinab, Sand Creek, Rupunau, Potarinau, Sawariwau, Katoonarib, Parikwarunawa, Baitoon, Katu’ur, Shriri, West Bank Demerara, Ogle, Industry, Cummings Lodge, Better Hope, Stratspey, Annandale, Buxton, Linepath Skeldon, Weldaad, Rosignol, De Edwards, Cotton Tree among others.

Interventions will range from the use of edutainment and life skills training to reduce the vulnerability of youths to empowering teachers to deal with HIV/AIDS to provision of care and support to persons living with HIV and orphans and vulnerable children. There will also be provision of Voluntary and Counselling and Testing Services, training and building of the capacity of organisations to continue to implement HIV/AIDS activities after funding. General prevention activities will also be implemented incorporating prevention of other STIs, other social ills such as drug and alcohol use, teenage pregnancy/sexual and reproductive health reduction of vulnerability.

The sub-projects are valued at G$121Mn (US$606,446) and will be implemented over the next 12 months. The total value of sub-projects funded over this project to date is G$324.6Mn (US$1.6Mn)