| Overview : This project, funded by the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), sets up a plan for countering the HIV and TB diseases in Belize over the 2019-2021 period, focusing on vulnerable populations, primarily: MSMs and transgender women, people living with HIV (PLHIV), including vulnerable children, and TB patients. The project will support prevention, treatment and adherence of PLHIV and TB treatments. To do so, it will seek to advance a human rights framework for key populations and will contribute to the strengthening of national institutions called to support these populations, in collaboration with civil society organizations and other partners; for which specific capacity development plans have been tailored. Prevalent internal and external discrimination faced by those infected and affected also continue to stymie the country’s best efforts at halting and preventing their transmission. The intervention strategy includes HIV and TB disease prevention and management with Health Systems Strengthening (HSS), community systems strengthening and Human Rights components. The overarching element of the grant is the attention to the respect and dignity of Human Rights for all populations, including key populations made vulnerable by socio-economic and political predispositions. Research has continued to prove that strategically planned HIV and TB interventions are effective only when the holistic support net of social protections inclusive of legislative reforms, a welcoming policy environment and increased access to psycho-social and bio-medical services are guaranteed to all, particularly those populations on the fringes of society with most need. As per the United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework (MSDF 2016-2021) outcomes, this project will continue to increase and improve access to healthcare and services to MSMs and other males at risk, trans and other vulnerable populations. In addition, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that will be members of the CSO hub will benefit from capacity development to strengthen the national healthcare and health referral systems and relevant social systems in line with the creation of an enabling environment for those infected and affected by both diseases. |
