USAID Launches HIV/AIDS Prevention Campaign

Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza launched the campaign in El Salvador.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through its cooperative agreement with the Pan American Social Marketing Organization (PASMO), in joint effort with the Federal Republic of Germany, through its state development bank KfW, and Miss Universe Organization launched this morning a HIV/AIDS prevention campaign entitled, “Men of Truth.”

The campaign, that seeks to promote the prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) including HIV infection, will be divulged through mass media and interpersonal communication during a three-month period. The campaign has already been launched in other Latin American countries, including Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras.

The official launching in El Salvador was presided over by Vice President Ana Vilma de Escobar; Miss Universe 2008 and HIV activist Dayana Mendoza; U.S. Embassy Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, Michael McGee; Minister of Health and Public Assistance, Dr. José Guillermo Maza, and PASMO Country Director Gerardo Lara.

During her three-day visit in El Salvador, Miss Universe 2008 is participating in the launching of the “Men of Truth” campaign and in private meetings with organizations that promote HIV/AIDS prevention.  Miss Universe will also visit support centers for children and other people infected with HIV/AIDS, and will learn about programs supported by USAID and PASMO that benefit groups most vulnerable to the epidemy.  Miss Universe will get a first-hand knowledge of and will help raise awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention activities in the country.

USAID invests approximately $2 million a year to fight the epidemy in El Salvador.  USAID has focalized its support for prevention activities in high-prevalence and high-risk communities, particularly sex commercial workers, men who have sex with men and people living with HIV/AIDS.