Dear GAIA Supporters!

GAIA’s Hope Center Clinic, the clinic that you helped build on the front line of AIDS in the village of Sikoro, Bamako, Mali, is not only the first village-level HIV clinic to offer free HIV care in Mali but it has become a model to replicate! As a direct result of our work, 16 other village-based centers of care will be opening in Mali in 2010. Our clinic has become a model for the “decentralization” of HIV care for the rest of West Africa.
Because of our work, West African doctors and policy makers are expanding their efforts to offer more HIV treatment at the village level. Our commitment to improving HIV care, and access to it, is changing the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in West Africa. Treatment is one of the best means of preventing AIDS transmission now, while the world waits for a successful HIV vaccine to be developed.

Activities 2009 (January – September 2009)

• January 2009: Muralist Eduardo Piñeda painted a mural on the Hope Center Clinic wall. Mr Piñeda and his daughter, Teresa, donated this work. A video is being produced by the filmmaker Dan Viens to document the process of working with the community.
• February 2009: Approval of the Hope Center to be the first “infirmary” style clinic to distribute free HIV medication in West Africa.
HIV specialist and HIV Pharmacist working on site at Hope Center Clinic
• March – April 2009: Delivery of an ultrasound machine to our clinic in Mali – to assist pregnant moms with planning their deliveries and reduce the risk of childbirth.
KAP/ Vaccine willingness to participate studies in village and presentation at IAS, Keystone meetings
• June 2009: Implementation of TB BOLO, our TB education and outreach Program.
• July – October 2009: Kotou Sangare trained in HIV vaccine research techniques will re-establish basic research protocol (HIV ELISpot assays, validation of GAIA Vaccine) lead by Dr. Ousmane Koita

Ongoing Activities

• HIV testing and access to care at the Hope Center Clinic in Sikoro, Bamako, Mali – one of the first certified HIV care clinics at the village level in Mali
• MTCTP at Chez Rosalie – HIV Prevention Program operating since 2005, in Hope Center maternity that receives more than 120 pregnant moms/month
• HIV education and outreach: Here Bolo – peer education program – since 2007
• TB education and outreach: TB Bolo - initiated October 2008
• Nutrition for HIV-seropositive patients at Hope Center Clinic continues – weekly Friday meals
• Peer support group – with HIV seropositive peer discussion facilitator
• HIV vaccine research ongoing

By the numbers - In 2009, GAIA has already

• Distributed 8,135 condoms
• Taught 5,214 people about HIV
• Consulted with 1,123 patients about their risk of acquiring HIV and STIs
• Tested 1,505 patients for HIV and sexually transmitted disease
• Provided 560 boxes of artificial milk to HIV sero-positive moms
• Welcomed 27 HIV-free newborns to Chez Rosalie

Our commitment to improving care, and access to it, is changing the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in West Africa.

Thank you for your visionary support of our work!

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