From 2011 through 2016, FHI 360 worked with the Government of Nepal to reduce the transmission and impact of HIV and improve reproductive health among key populations, including female sex workers and their clients, transgender sex workers, migrant workers and their spouses, and people living with HIV. The Saath-Saath project operated in 33 of Nepal’s 75 districts, mobilized 48 formal partners and collaborated to implement extremely focused, well-aligned interventions. The project helped hundreds of thousands of people through its outreach activities and clinical services.

Noteworthy achievements of the project include:

• 100 millionth condom distributed

  
  In March 2016, the Saath-Saath project achieved a landmark in Nepal’s HIV prevention efforts: It distributed the 100 millionth condom given by HIV programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Saath-Saath project alone distributed more than 30 million condoms.

• 507,000+ individuals reached with HIV prevention messages

  
  The project reached 507,808 people with efforts that included prevention outreach and drop-in centers. This involved working with female sex workers, clients of female sex workers, people living with HIV, and migrants and their spouses.

• 112,000+ people received HIV testing services

  
  In the 62 expanded and integrated health service clinics supported by Saath-Saath, 112,260 individuals received HIV testing services. Of those individuals, 1,264 were diagnosed with HIV and were enrolled in pre-services for treatment and antiretroviral therapy evaluation. In addition, the project screened more than 106,800 people for sexually transmitted infections, and 40 percent were diagnosed and received treatment.

• 30 individuals awarded internships

  
  The project provided opportunities to 30 members of the National Networks of Key Populations through the Saath-Saath internship program. A key element of Saath-Saath’s capacity-building strategy, the internships focused on providing first-hand experience with HIV programs and developing organizational skills. The project also provided mentoring by technical experts in HIV and family planning.

• 6 health care sites improved HIV services for key populations

  
  Saath-Saath identified six government health care facilities that had the highest migrant population in four of the 33 Saath-Saath districts: Bara, Kapilbastu, Nawalparasi and Palpa. Working with partners from nongovernmental organizations, the project co-located satellite clinics in each of these sites to provide case management of sexually transmitted infections, HIV testing and counseling, and pre-antiretroviral therapy services to people living with HIV. The project also provided staff training in HIV-related capacity building. Since June 2015, all six facilities have been independently providing HIV services to key populations.

  For more details on the achievements of the Saath-Saath project, read the Saath-Saath Bulletin Final Issue.

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  Photo credit: Neelima Shrestha/FHI 360