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Brazil
The Brazilian government, through its National STD/AIDS Programme (NSAP), considers the NGO community one of its most important partners in planning and implementing a national HIV/AIDS strategy. The NSAP believes that NGOs occupy a strategic position in mobilizing the human and financial resources needed to deal with the epidemic. They acknowledge that NGOs are particularly influential in the following ways:
Through their varied activities, they provide the public with reliable information and services; these weapons against ignorance and prejudice form a keystone of effective action.
Their often pioneering and exemplary collective actions contribute to public recognition that society as a whole must be involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, with the government assuming its constitutional responsibilities by especially allocating resources for prevention and care.
They clearly demonstrate that defence of the human rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PHIV) must be the basis for individual and collective action because HIV/AIDS transcends biomedical issues with its wide-ranging repercussions on social relationships.
By presenting themselves as partners to the State instead of aligning with political parties, the NGOs have succeeded in playing a dominant role in defining the "political AIDS agenda". Their organizational flexibility and involvement with affected communities enable them to present responsible workplans.
It is especially regarding prevention among vulnerable groups and the implementation of alternative care/support strategies for PHIV that the NSAP cooperates most directly with NGOs. This is reflected, for example, in NSAP funding for NGO projects carried out in 1993-94. Projects were funded in four areas: 1) care and support for PHIV; 2) IEC; 3) institutional development and exchange; and 4) behavioural interventions among the most vulnerable population groups. Thus far, 102 organizations have received financial aid for 170 projects.
Funding of NGO projects takes place twice yearly, with an External Committee supervising the selection process. To help NGOs find partners for new proposals, the NSAP published an NGO Directory and manual on the formulation and evaluation of community projects. NGOs receiving funding receive further orientation via an NSAP Manual on Administrative Procedures and Bookkeeping. Funds are released periodically to projects upon presentation of reports including technical, financial and qualitative information. Three times yearly, monitoring takes place by the projects themselves in collaboration with external consultants.
José Stalin Pedrosa, NGO Liaison Officer, National STD/AIDS Programme, Ministry of Health, Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco G, Sobraloja, 70085 Brasilia D.F., Brazil; Tel. 55-61-315-2520; fax: 55-61-315-2519/2400.
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