US Government rapid appraisal for HIV/AIDS program expansion : Swaziland, August 21-30, 2004

In recent years, through the Corridors of Hope Initiative (COH), the Ambassador"s initiative on HIV/AIDS and other support to non-government organizations (NGOs) and to the National Emergency Response Committee on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA), the United States Government (USG), primarily through the regional offices of CDC and USAID, has emphasized prevention of HIV/AIDS among high risk groups such as truck drivers, taxi drivers, seasonal agricultural workers and commercial sex workers. In addition, PMTCT, VCT and BCC projects have been supported. Anticipating increased funding for Swaziland for fiscal year 2005, a rapid appraisal of the USG strategy was conducted from August 22nd to August 30th with a team comprising USAID, CDC and FHI technical staff from both Washington and the regional offices of the respective agencies. The major objectives of the rapid appraisal were to plan a joint USG strategy for Swaziland and make recommendations to reorient USG programs within a generalized epidemic. In addition, although Swaziland is not a focus country for PEPFAR, the program can clearly contribute to and benefit from aligning itself with the Emergency Plan goals of treating 2 million PLWHAs, preventing 7 million HIV infections and caring for 10 million PLWHA and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) by 2008. The rapid appraisal was not designed to be a formal evaluation of interventions previously or currently supported by the USG or other donors. (excerpt)