About the Program
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:
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- 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:
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