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The Resource Foundation and Johnson & Johnson are dedicated to supporting innovative local projects that address problems related to HIV/AIDS.
 The problems surrounding HIV/AIDS are diverse and complex. Many international programs strive to reduce the spread of the disease in high-risk communities through prevention and educational programs and unique projects that assist people living with HIV/AIDS.
Each year, Johnson & Johnson supports over 20 projects in the region with contributions exceeding one million dollars. This year, Johnson & Johnson also sponsored representatives from nine nonprofit organizations so they could attend the 17th International AIDS Society Conference held in Mexico City.
Many of this year’s programs help children living with HIV/AIDS who have been abandoned or whose families cannot afford to provide proper care. One such program is being implemented by Fundación Dar Amor (Fundamor) in Bogotá, Colombia. Primarily a home for abandoned children suffering from HIV/AIDS, Fundamor also owns an organic farm that provides children with fresh and healthy food to keep their immune systems strong. Older children participate in farm activities, learning about sustainable agriculture, while gaining self-esteem and pride.
While medicine is essential, it alone is not enough. For people living with HIV/AIDS, adherence to treatment plans is often hard due to health complications, social stress, malnutrition, or simply lack of funds. In the Dominican Republic, Johnson & Johnson supports a program called Adherencia Plus run by Ceprosh. This program provides educational, psychological and social assistance, including family workshops to reduce stigma, and group therapy meetings for patients struggling to maintain treatment. Ceprosh has also formed a strategic partnership with another Dominican NGO to provide loans to small business owners living with HIV/AIDS. By improving their businesses, individuals can afford to live healthier lifestyles, keep stronger immune systems, and are less likely to stop taking medications.
Similarly Johnson & Johnson also funds a program in Mexico coordinated by IMIFAP, an affiliate of The Resource Foundation, which educates health promoters on microenterprise and life skills training techniques. Health promoters, in turn, assist small-business owners living with the disease. This program enables participants to generate additional income, acquire fundamental life skills, and improve their overall quality of life.
The results of these dynamic projects allow children and adults living with HIV/AIDS to improve their quality of life and carry on with dignity and hope, despite the hardships of the disease.
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