Reducing HIV-related Stigma and Gender-based Violence in Guyana

Project Duration

2013 - 2015

Project Funder

USAID

Project Countries

Guyana

Project issues/theme

HIV and AIDS

Lead Project Partners

JSI, FHI 360

ICRW Project Director

Anne Stangl

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Globally, stigma and discrimination fuel HIV transmission by impeding access to testing and treatment services for people living with HIV. In Guyana, stigmatizing attitudes in the general population and discriminatory treatment by people ranging from health care providers to local policy makers intensify the marginalization of vulnerable groups at highest risk, driving them further from the reach of health services and much-needed prevention, treatment, care, and support. Despite the rapid scale-up of HIV prevention care and treatment services in Guyana over the last decade, reaching key vulnerable populations who are most at risk, including men who have sex with men and sex workers remains a challenge and the epidemic persists.

Adult HIV prevalence in Guyana is 1.07%, yet the prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) is reportedly at 19.4%, and is reportedly 16.6% among female sex workers (FSW). As such, reducing the transmission of HIV and stigma and discrimination against these key populations has become a critical component of Guyana’s national response to the epidemic.

In response to nature of the epidemic in Guyana, ICRW is providing support to local NGOs under Advancing Partners & Communities (APC), a USAID funded project, implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., in partnership with FHI 360.

ICRW is assisting in the implementation of the project in Guyana over the next three years, helping to strengthen the capacity of local organizations in Guyana to provide HIV prevention, care and treatment services to key populations at heightened risk of HIV infection, including women, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals and sex workers. Activities will include a rapid assessment of the current responses, gaps and challenges in providing HIV services to key populations in Guyana, the development of stigma reduction tools and a screening tool and protocol for gender-based violence, and technical support to NGOs to develop and implement HIV stigma reduction activities and implement GBV screening and referral activities. ICRW will also support government stakeholders to integrate GBV screening and stigma reduction into the National HIV Strategy.