On this World AIDS Day 2010, MOSCTHA joins the fight to raise awareness and help stop the spread of HIV. As part of MOSCTHA’s targeted program to HIV/AIDS, we recently launched a new campaign to create awareness, promote responsible sexual behavior, and change unhealthy attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the communities of Anse a Pitre region in southeastern Haiti.

The communities of Anse-a-Pitre, Banane, Boucan Guillaime and Bois D’homme are particularly difficult to access due to very poor road conditions. These conditions have prevented many organizations from implementing development programs in the region resulting in a lack of information regarding sexual and reproductive health. Field research and survey results indicate a significantly low level of knowledge about STIs and HIV/AIDS in the population, as well as, very little willingness to use effective contraception and disease protection.

Our approach will be to work with community leaders in order to:

-Promote understanding of the risks associated with the knowledge, attitude and behavior towards STIs and HIV / AIDS

-Encourage the use of contraceptives and disease protection methods available

-Select and train community health promoters to undertake community awareness and education activities related to STIs and HIV / AIDS.

Through this new program, MOSCTHA aims to reach out to educate a population of 4,000 - 6,000 people. This effort is in addition to our mobile health care units which on a daily basis visit 33 communities across the Dominican Republic to provide access to contraceptive services, family planning, clinical care, sexual and reproductive health care, STD/HIV prevention and treatment, maternal and child healthcare, and the detection and treatment of cervical and breast cancer.