In two weeks, Siempre Unidos’ mental health therapist, Ilich (pictured at right), will attend the 2016 Gender-based Violence (GBV) Working Group Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. He will represent one of 7 organizations in Africa and Latin America recognized as offering an innovative and culturally based intervention to combat violence. The event is sponsoredRead more
Monthly Update
In mid-July, Amy traveled to San Pedro Sula, Honduras to strategize about programs with staff, enhance information sharing between the Honduras and US offices, and meet with patients and community members. Below are some highlights: Vanessa Luchadora When asked to name her profession, “Vanessa,”* a 60 year-old HIV+ woman said without pause “luchadora” meaning “fighter.”Read more
When we expanded our HIV education and testing program last year, Delmy joined our staff to educate community members, make home visits and provide nutritional support to the poorest of our patients. She has a story remarkably similar to our patients’ making her a powerful advocate and provider. Ten years ago she had a babyRead more
Several individuals, churches and NGOs work hard to support our services in Honduras. They include Direct Relief in Santa Barbara that provides donated medications and supplies and St. Stephen’s, Belvedere where Sunday School children raise funds each year. Last year, the St. Stephen’s effort procured enough money to build a tilapia pond and stock itRead more
Dear Friends, We are please to share our 2015 Annual Report detailing our clinic-based, outreach, and advocacy services for HIV-positive people made vulnerable due to their status and poverty in Honduras. You’ll read about Linda who is alive due to our specialized care and constant monitoring as well as Marta who jokingly refers to HIVRead more
At 49 years of age, Carlos* is just one year older than I. We met in February when Denise Main, our co-founder and board president, and I visited the San Pedro Sula clinic in Honduras. “It wasn’t always this way,” Carlos says referring to the loss of fatty tissue in his face. “I used toRead more
“Fernanda* is one of our oldest patients,” Pascual writes. “Thirteen years with Siempre Unidos! The bag was too heavy for Fernanda to hold, and almost her size!” With the support of donors like All Saints By the Sea Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara, California, we are able to provide HIV-positive patients who are very poorRead more
In his fifty-fifth year, “Danny” was going blind. He had nerve damage in one eye and retina damage in the other due to an infection common in people with weak immune systems. Danny is very open, positive and sunny. You can see him here in this photo with Siempre Unidos staffer Yolany as she isRead more
“$33,334.78! Do you know how many lempiras that is?” Pascual Torres, our Honduran Executive Director, asked the Siempre Unidos Board. He was reporting the amount raised by the clinic staff in 2015 for clinic operations. The Honduran currency, the lempira, is worth 5 cents. At the beginning of 2015, Pascual and the staff redoubled aRead more
When Siempre Unidos started 15 years ago, we held marches in urban centers to bring attention to AIDS in Honduras. In addition to suffering from a lack of treatment, our patients feared hostile discrimination. They walked with paper bags over their heads. Today, we celebrate World AIDS Day and recognize the victories and remaining challenges.Read more
