AIDS is a global public health crisis of unparalleled proportions, yet too often the most vulnerable and marginalized populations are neglected and underrepresented in approaches to treating and preventing HIV/AIDS. To fill this gap, OSI’s Public Health Program works to support stigmatized and socially excluded groups like Roma and other ethnic minorities, injecting drug users, sex workers, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.

The Public Health Program advocates for and provides grants to efforts to reform discriminatory or exclusionary policies; expand the availability of HIV treatment and prevention services like needle exchange and opiate substitution treatment for people who use drugs; increase civil society participation on issues of sexual health and rights; promote the inclusion of palliative care in AIDS funding strategies; and protect the human rights of people living with HIV.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has pioneered a new way of delivering development assistance: it supports only technically sound projects that are designed and implemented by country stakeholders, including civil society, and it does so in a way that is transparent and accountable. 

The Public Health Program supports: efforts to increase the involvement of marginalized populations in country coordinating mechanisms, program implementation, and the Global Fund Board; monitoring of the implementation of Global Fund grants at the country level to ensure high-quality services are being delivered to those who most need them; and advocacy for polices and procedures that facilitate stronger civil society engagement.