Mission Statement:
Through the development and implementation of diverse programs and services, we aim to:
- Prevent the spread of new infection through education
- Promote behavior change as it pertains to a safer sex life
- Create awareness to HIV/AIDS
- Eliminate myths and stigmas against the HIV/AIDS pandemic
- Network with other groups working in AIDS related areas on a regional, provincial, national and international level
Philosophy:
CAC believes in and encourages social advocacy to ensure individual and collective right to non-judgmental education and support, thus encouraging responsible decision-making and personal empowerment.
Vision Statement:
CAC is a consumer-focused organization that provides workshops, condom distribution, and sexual education programs aimed at preventing HIV/AIDS by using complete informational knowledge to aid in healthy decision making. We work on a collaborative basis with interested groups and stakeholders to achieve our goals. We demonstrate accountability by ensuring a competent, effective and transparent organization.
Responsibilities:
- building partnerships; and networking primarily at the community level;
- responding to the national policy agenda;
- guiding the implementation of local sectoral plans;
- advocating for the establishment and expansion of prevention and care services within their communities;
- mobilizing resources at the community response;
- monitoring all program targets at the local level.
Goals
Goals for future HIV/AIDS work in Cayo:
- Focus on outreach and education in the remote villages
- Advocate for a legal system to help HIV+ parents determine their children's future
- Hire more people to represent and monitor children affected by HIV/AIDS
- Train counselors for post-HIV testing in the private labs (about 4 in Cayo)
- Create more awareness and reduce stigma, especially in schools; hire a dedicated person in the district to carry out this work
Proposed goals for the CAC:
- Develop an action plan
- Have consistent and frequent financial reporting
- Have an office and be a center for resources on HIV/AIDS
- Communicate information about Cayo District, e.g. to government and within Cayo to ensure effective policies
- Conduct education and outreach, e.g. teach safer sex in schools, empower young women to protect themselves, educate PLWHA on how to stay well, teach home care to families, conduct workshops or one-on-one training in villages
- Encourage testing and arrange for more convenient testing centers