USAID/DRC Enhancing Services and Linkages for Children Affected by HIV and AIDS (ELIKIA)

While rates of HIV in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are relatively low at 1% (UNAIDS, 2015), prevalence in population centers and along economic corridors has remained a consistent concern among public health officials. Among those most deeply affected are children—the DRC is home to an estimated 290,000 children orphaned by AIDS, and tens of thousands more are made vulnerable due to an HIV-positive parent or caregiver whose illness compromises their ability to meet the needs of their children.

With funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), EDC is working to improve services, support, and opportunities for orphans and vulnerable children affected by the epidemic through the USAID/DRC Enhancing Services and Linkages for Children Affected by HIV and AIDS (ELIKIA) project. The project also provides HIV-affected households with an increased range of services that contribute to HIV treatment adherence, testing, and prevention, improving the coordinated continuum of care for people affected by HIV.