Healthlink Worldwide

Healthlink Worldwide has been working in the Latin American region since the 1980's. Our activities have focused primarily on the issue of HIV and AIDS and building the capacity of our partners who work in both urban and rural areas.

High levels of inequity and social exclusion in the region and high levels of poverty mean not all groups have access to health services. For example, some indigenous groups face discrimination and find it difficult to get health care. In addition large numbers of the population in the region are young people. In particular they need information and support with coping with the challenges of growing up and receiving appropriate health information.

Latin America has a history of strong social movements and community activism. Healthlink Worldwide supports partners who work with innovative communication approaches, which have made a real difference to reducing health problems. In 2000 we began a new project working with two partners; the Brazilian Interdisciplinary Association on AIDS (ABIA) and Calandria, a social communication organisation in Peru, to improve HIV and AIDS communication.

Since 2001 we have also supported Atz'anem K'oj, a Guatemala based collective of clowns who use a lively and innovative brand of street theatre to promote safe sex and communicate HIV and AIDS information.

Some of our Latin American projects are highlighted below: