Prior to SEROvie in 1999, there was no such structure to provide specific services to HIV key populations. The work of SEROvie Foundation is unique because the community is involved at all levels of the organizational structure and takes active participation in shaping the response to HIV.
In the early days of our activism, the foundation experienced discrimination even from members of organizations called to collaborate with SEROvie. Some would even leave the discussion table to avoid interaction with us.
Once in Jacmel, in southeastern Haiti, police arrested community surveyors on charges that they were enlisting youth in homosexual practices. These setbacks helped shape the work of promoting respect for dignity and human rights.
A patient receiving ART counseling with a pharmacist at JCMenard Clinic
In less than twenty years, SEROvie has grown from being a grassroots community-based organization – with limited capacity – to becoming one of the most important networks in HIV/AIDS management in Haiti. PEPFAR’s funding through USAID goes a long way towards delivering services tailored to the needs of key populations.
We [received] the “Human Rights Hero” award from the American Embassy in Haïti for SEROvie leadership in the protection and defense of Human Rights in Haiti. At a time when violence was erupting against men who have sex with men, SEROvie was the third organization in the Caribbean to receive the UNAIDS Red Ribbon prize in 2012.The AmFAR program also acknowledged SEROvie as a model organization in Haiti in 2013. These recognitions have been the highlights boosting our efforts to continue the work of leading the way in the right direction.
At first, our organization could barely gather 50 people around its work, and today it oversees eighteen medical facilities over eight geographical departments out of ten, in the country, serving over 40,000 beneficiaries per year. More than 6,650 clients on ART, 48% of national clients on PrEP are from SEROvie network.
A risk evaluation game with men who have sex with men at Club99 in Cayes
Fondation SEROvie, Haiti
Years as a USAID/PEPFAR partner: 20 (17 as sub, 3 as prime)