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HIV/AIDS

What is it?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a retrovirus that progressively damages the cells of the immune system. As HIV advances, the immune system weakens and the person becomes increasingly vulnerable to certain infections, causing increased morbidity and death. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is called "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome"—AIDS. It can take 10-15 years for an untreated HIV-infected person to develop AIDS; while antiretroviral drugs are not a cure, they can greatly slow the progression of the disease, and enable individuals to live long lives.

According to World Bank data, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for adults in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to being the cause of death for about two million people every year, HIV/AIDS has had costly economic consequences in decimating persons' livelihoods, and has left millions of children orphaned in its wake.

The HIV virus can be spread through unprotected sexual intercourse between an infected and uninfected person, transfusion of HIV-infected blood, sharing HIV-contaminated needles and between a mother and her unborn child during pregnancy, childbirth and/or breastfeeding. According to the World Health Organization, almost 1,200 children become infected with HIV every day – even though transmission is almost entirely avoidable.

What We Do

Global Fund: Technical Assistance

Through a Global Fund program with the Eglise du Christ au Congo (ECC), IMA World Health supports activities that prevent and correctly treat HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Activities include education on disease prevention, voluntary testing and counseling and, in some areas, treatment in collaboration with local partners.

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AIDSRelief: Providing Technical Assistance and Site Management

AIDSRelief Project, funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, is implemented by a consortium of five organizations in 10 countries. As one of the partner organizations, IMA is responsible for Site Management in 31 local partner treatment facilities located across four regions of Mara, Mwanza, Tanga and Manyara in Tanzania.

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Southern Sudan Aids Commission: Prevention, Care and Treatment

IMA's newest HIV/AIDS project, built on its existing health care projects in the Republic of South Sudan's Jonglei and Upper Nile states, has been made possible by new funding from the World Bank-managed Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF). The program is designed to increase the two states' capacity to manage and implement a full range of HIV/AIDS prevention and care services, including behavior change communication activities, voluntary counseling and testing, prevention of mother-to-child-transmission, and HIV/AIDS care and treatment.

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Past Programs

IMA has recently completed three major HIV/AIDS programs in Tanzania.

Orphans and Vulnerable Children: AIDS leaves thousands of children orphaned and alone every year. With funding from the Global Fund through Pact-Tanzania, from 2009-2010 IMA provided 3,392 orphans and vulnerable children sustainable access to community health fund, education, food and nutrition in 76 villages in the Lushoto District.
Home-Based Care: With funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through Pathfinder International, from 2005-2009 IMA participated in a community home-based care (HBC) program to improve the health status and overall well being of people living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. To support quality care, IMA procured and distributed HBC kits as well as created working partnerships with community and other HIV/AIDS programs.
Diflucan® Partnership Program: From 2003-2008, IMA partnered with Axios International and Pfizer to provide $120 million worth of Diflucan® every year to HIV/AIDS patients who suffered from serious opportunitistic and fungal infections in over 50 countries.