Mentors, staff and clients at the HIV/AIDS treatment centre in Dhangadhi, Nepal. © EJAF
Poster designed to raise awareness of Kenyan men's vulnerability to HIV infection. © EJAF
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation provided a grant of £253,652 in 2007/08.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) was established in 1993 to support programmes that help to alleviate the physical, emotional and financial hardship of those living with, affected by or at risk of HIV/AIDS.
EJAF is now the largest independent HIV/AIDS grantmaker in the UK and one of the top 20 international HIV/AIDS charities. It is currently supporting 74 projects in 16 countries with grants worth more than £11.5 million.
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation has been supporting HIV/AIDS projects through EJAF since 2002. This funding, totalling over £2.7 million, has been used to support 42 projects in 14 countries including India, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine and Zambia.
The most recent grants awarded have focused on ensuring access to HIV information and testing services for highly vulnerable but marginalised groups and improving care and support services for HIV positive people. During 2008, The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation funding will enable:
• 4,000 young male prisoners in Kenya to access HIV counselling and testing through an innovative new mobile testing programme in collaboration with the Kenyan Prison Service.
• The distribution of condoms and lubricant for safer sex to 15,000 men who have sex with men in Kenya (where homosexuality remains illegal).
• 1,500 people newly diagnosed with HIV in Zambia to receive a home care kit and a 6-week programme to help them understand and manage their condition.
• Clinical mentorship to improve services at 5 HIV/AIDS care sites in remote far western Nepal and link them with community care services reaching more than 1,500 people.
Visit the Elton John AIDS Foundation website.