HIV transmission in Ethiopia stems in part from commercial sex, which itself is fueled by limited economic opportunity for women. Many have lost the support of spouses and extended family due to illness and death.

African Services' Response:

To create opportunities for women formerly engaged in sex work, African Services launched an HIV prevention leadership and outreach program. Eager to leave sex work, dozens of women have participated in trainings that equip them with HIV education, outreach and counseling skills necessary to reach others at high-risk.

Through their resourcefulness and compassion, they are accessing vast networks of women at risk and enabling African Services to extend care to more underserved groups. This peer-led approach is highly effective because it relies on the women's unique capacity to engage those at greatest risks for HIV and provide credible support to help them protect themselves and others.

Initiatives like this are a direct-response to needs that are often overlooked and are strengthening the fabric of communities burdened by AIDS.