History

Siempre Unidos began as the first self help group for persons with AIDS in Honduras in 1995 and we remain loyal to our roots. From its inception, the group relied on Rev Pascual Torres, Chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of Honduras. With support from St. Stephen’s Church (Belvedere, CA) and All Saints Parish (Beverly Hills, CA), the group was able to rent a meeting space in San Pedro Sula and receive nursing care and medicines for opportunistic infections. Despite this holistic support, the average life expectancy once joining the group was 6 months.

Through partnership with AIDS Healthcare Foundation in February 2003, our meeting area in San Pedro Sula was transformed into a true clinic offering physician care and triple anti-retroviral medications. Working in conjunction with the government of Honduras, our San Pedro Sula clinic became an official government "Integral Clinic" eligible for government provided anti retroviral medications and laboratory tests. At the Honduran government‘s request we opened clinics in Siguatepeque in 2003 and in Roatan in 2004. In 2005, we were able to build a 3000 square foot clinic / work shop in Siguatepeque. In 2007, we received a beautiful 5,000 square foot clinic building in Roatan donated by From the Heart Foundation.

Throughout this period, the Episcopal Church has provided many needed social and spiritual services for persons living with AIDS and in the process has worked to de-stigmatize the epidemic. Under Rev Torres’ leadership, grants have been received for community outreach with commercial sex workers, street children, high school and university students. Siempre Unidos also offers voluntary confidential and accurate HIV screening which is very hard to find in Honduras.

As patients become healthy they are eager to work. Because of job discrimination, this is almost impossible in commercial sites. Employment is so important for complete recovery and for fighting community stigma that we have focused new efforts for job creation for our patients. Our clinic and outreach education staff of 42 includes 26 HIV positive individuals. In addition we now run four micro industries employing another 50 HIV positive individuals. These workshops are members of the Fair Trade Federation and enable our employees to support themselves and their families and also return profits to help run the AIDS treatment clinics.