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 The Liberian AIDS Prevention and Awareness (LAPA) Program was initiated to serve as a comprehensive preventative and educational program on the epidemic (reports have shown an approximate 1.5% prevalence rate in 15-24yr olds but a variation of 2.5% in urban areas, .8% in rural areas, and 2.6% in Monrovia1 yet Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy2 suggests 5.2%) to aide in promoting overall healthy behavior; and improve the country’s overall health infrastructure.
The specific goals and aims of the program are:
- Increase the number of young people with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/STI prevention, risks, and modes of transmission
- Integrate healthy practices information in secondary school education
- Address any negative factors that may promote HIV/STI transmission:
- Violence and sexual abuse
- Inequality between genders and marginalized groups
- Stigma
- Lacking resources, advocacy, leadership
- Myths
- Increase the percentage of available prophylactics and their proper use, especially by young people
- Encourage voluntary testing with “know your status” campaigns
- Incorporate program goals into government awareness and policies
- Assist local clinics and testing centers to provide clinical services
- Liaison with existing health and community bodies to augment similar goals
- Encourage members of the diaspora to become active in the health care system of Liberia and practice healthy behaviors
1) 2007 Epidemic Update, UNAIDS
2) National Health Policy Plan, Liberian MOHSW, 2007
More Information
- The LAPA BLOG:
Walk the walk with us. Get updates as we progress in the realization of our goals outlined above. Give us your feedback and opinions about what we are doing and how we can do it better.
- About LAPA:
The LAPA project was initiated thanks to a generous grant received from the 21st Century Project while at Northeastern University. The goal of the scholarship is to foster experiential education and help students embark on an independent research project with tangible results. The facets of this project include the cited goals and aims; creation of this website; a physical presence in Liberia and documentation of the process. There is much gratitude and thanks to extend to everyone who has worked with me on the project, for all their input, ideas, time, contacts and general support.
- About Liberia:
Learn more about Liberia from "LibeiraWebs.com
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