Dominican Republic

Office Staff

  • Claudia Allers, Chief of Party/Directora de Proyecto
  • Rafaela (Ángela) de León, Program Director/Directora de Programas
  • Eusebia Ferrer, Finance and Administration Director/Directora de Finanzas y Administración
  • Franz Gonzales, MD. M&E Officer/Oficial de Monitoreo y Evaluación
  • Orquídea Salzuela, M&E Data Management Assistant/Asistente M&E
  • Alba Rodríguez, Program Coordinator/Coordinadora de Programas
  • Donny Fulcar, Program Coordinator/Coordinador de Programas
  • Concepción (Conchi) Meroño, MD. HIV-AIDS Clinical Services Advisor/Asesora de Servicios Clínicos de VIH-SIDA
  • Judith Encarnación, Finance Officer/Oficial de Finanzas 
  • Diana Mariano, Administrative Coordinator/Coordinadora Administrativa
  • Liken Lee, Program Assistant/Asistente de Programas
  • Bety Alcántara, Housekeeper-Administrative Assistant/Conserje-Asistente Administrativa
  • Francisco Cruz, Driver/Chofer
  • Rafael Sosa, Driver/Chofer

Contact Information

Calle Padre Pina No. 105
Zona Universitaria
Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
+1 809 688 5629

Office Objectives

APC/Dominican Republic’s goal is to achieve a sustainable reduction in HIV transmission among key populations and an improved quality of life for people living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. The APC/DR team works to improve access to integrated, high quality HIV services to key populations (MSM/TG, MSW, FSW, PLHIV, clients of SW, other vulnerable groups) by strengthening the technical and organizational capacity of NGOs and community-based organizations through sub-grants, monitoring, and mentoring. APC has selected four consortia of regional or national partners that implement HIV prevention, treatment, care and support programs for key populations with special emphasis on individuals from key populations, other vulnerable populations, and people who are living with HIV in four geographic areas of the Dominican Republic. This includes 14 provinces and 75% of the country´s population.

The main objectives of APC/DR are:

  • Improved technical and organizational capacity of NGOs and CBOs serving key populations
  • Improved access to a defined package of integrated STI/HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, community care and support services for key populations
  • Improved quality of HIV/AIDS services for key populations
  • Strengthened public private network to facilitate the continuum of HIV prevention to care
  • Contribute to the sustainability (programmatic, organizational and financial) and autonomy of the principal actors in the key populations’ response, with reduced dependency on external funding

Primary Activities

  • Work with non-governmental (NGO) networks and regional government health managers to build their technical and organizational capacity
  • Support grantees to improve their ability to manage their respective organizational systems and networks to meet USAID and other donor requirements while providing effective HIV services for key populations in their region.
  • Document and technically improving models including combination HIV prevention, referral systems for clinical services and reaching and retaining key populations in comprehensive HIV care.

Health Areas

  • HIV prevention and care services
  • Key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people (TG), female sex workers (FSW), and people living with HIV
  • Sustainability of the community and government response to HIV
  • Reduce HIV prevalence and incidence
  • Community care and support for people living with HIV

Download the APC/DR Factsheet

Personal de Oficina

  • Claudia Allers, Directora de Proyecto
  • Diana Mariano, Asistente Administrativa
  • Eusebia Ferrer, Directora de Finanzas y Administración
  • Kary Colón, Oficial de Programas
  • Liken Lee, Asistente de Programas
  • Bety Alcantara, Limpieza
  • Francisco Cruz, Chauffeur
  • Rosa Aybar, Oficial de Programas
  • Angela de Leon, Directora de Programas
  • Gercy Mateo, Oficial de Monitoreo y Evaluación
  • Judith Encarnación, Oficial de Finanzas y Administración
  • Donny Fulcar, Oficial de Programas
  • Evelyn Gonzalez, Monitora de Finanzas y Administración

Información del Contacto

Calle Padre Pina No. 105
Zona Universitaria
Santo Domingo, República Dominicana

+1 809 688 5629

Oficina Objetivos

La meta de APC en la República Dominicana es reducir la transmisión del virus VIH entre las poblaciones clave de una manera sostenible y duradera, y a su vez mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas que son VIH positivas en dicho país. El equipo de APC/RD trabaja para mejorar el acceso a servicios integrales y de alta calidad de VIH para las poblaciones clave (HSH, TG, HTS, MTS, PVVIH, clientes de TS, y otros grupos vulnerables) mediante el fortalecimiento de la capacidad técnica y organizativa de las organizaciones no gubernamentales y organizaciones comunitarias a través de subvenciones, seguimiento y asesoramiento.

Hasta la fecha APC ha seleccionado cuatro consorcios regionales o socios nacionales para trabajar en cuatro áreas geográficas, esto significa que estamos trabajando en 14 provincias donde vive el 75% de la población de la República Dominicana. Estos consorcios implementan programas de prevención, tratamiento, cuidado, y grupos de apoyo de VIH/SIDA dirigidos a poblaciones clave con un enfoque especial a miembros de poblaciones clave, miembros de otras poblaciones vulnerables, y personas que son VIH positivas.

Los objetivos principales de APC/RD son:

  • Mejorar de la capacidad técnica y organizativa de las organizaciones no gubernamentales y organizaciones comunitarias que atienden a las poblaciones clave
  • Mejorar el acceso a un paquete definido de servicios integrales de ETS/VIH/SIDA de prevención, tratamiento, atención en la comunidad y servicios de apoyo para las poblaciones clave
  • Mejorar la calidad de los servicios de VIH/SIDA para las poblaciones clave
  • Fortalecer la red pública-privada para facilitar la continuidad de la prevención y el cuidado del VIH
  • Contribuir a la sostenibilidad (programática, organizativa y financiera) y la autonomía de los actores principales en la respuesta de las poblaciones clave, con menor dependencia a la financiación externa

Actividades Primarias

  • Trabajar con redes no gubernamentales y con administradores gubernamentales de salud para fortalecer su capacidad técnica y organizativa
  • Brindar asistencia a las organizaciones con subvenciones para mejorar su capacidad de gestión de sistemas de organización y redes, para cumplir con los requisitos de USAID y de otros donantes, mientras simultáneamente se prestan servicios eficaces de VIH a las poblaciones clave en cada región.
  • Mejorar elementos técnicos y de documentación de los modelos de prevención combinada del VIH, de sistemas de referencia a servicios clínicos de largo alcance y retener las poblaciones clave en la atención integral del VIH.

Áreas de Salud

  • Servicios de prevención y atención del VIH
  • Las poblaciones clave, como los hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH), personas transgenero (TG), trabajadoras sexuales (MSW), y las personas VIH positivas
  • Sostenibilidad de las acciones de la comunidad y el gobierno hacia el VIH
  • Reducir la prevalencia e incidencia del VIH
  • Atención y apoyo comunitario a personas VIH positivas

Download the APC/DR Factsheet

Dominican Republic-Specific Resources

Dominican Republic Results: October 2015 to March 2016
June 2016 | Project Highlight

In the Dominican Republic (DR), APC project serves populations with the highest HIV prevalence by expanding coverage and improving the quality of HIV-prevention, care, and support services.

USAID Global Call for Health Systems Strengthening Cases 2014
February 2015 | Case Study

USAID implementing partners voluntarily submitted over 145 cases to this Global Call for HSS Cases website. Eligible activities included those funded by USAID Global Health Bureau, bilateral mission, or regional operating unit budgets for programs in USAID's 24 priority countries for Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths (EPCMD) countries and the PEPFAR AIDS-Free Generation (AFG) priority countries.

Movimiento de Mujeres Unidas (MODEMU)
October 2014 | NGO

This NGO consists of former and current Dominican sex workers, both inside and outside of the country. MODEMU was created in 1996 after the first national congress of female sex workers was held in the Dominican Republic in 1995. Its main objectives are to promote the human rights of commercial sex workers (including health, social, and labor rights), to fight against trafficking, and to promote the human rights of trafficked women who have returned to the Dominican Republic.

Abriendo Puertas: Feasibility and Initial Effects of a Multi-Level Intervention among Female Sex Workers Living with HIV in the Dominican Republic
February 2014 | Study

This study aims to assess the feasibility and initial effects of an integrated prevention and care model for female sex workers (FSW) living with HIV called Abriendo Puertas and to assess the feasibility of engaging the male regular partners of FSW living with HIV in prevention and care services.

Dominican Republic Operational Plan Report FY 2013
January 2014 | Report

This report discusses PEPFAR’s work in the Dominican Republic. Consistent with the AIDS-free Generation vision, the PEPFAR team will continue to prioritize HIV prevention among key, high risk, populations. Among other principles, the partnership framework underscores the DR as the owner and leader of the national response, transparency, joint decision making, involvement of civil society in HIV prevention among key populations, collaboration among cooperating agencies, and the use of evidence-based practices.

News from Dominican Republic

2016

The Advancing Partners and Communities (APC) project in the Dominican Republic celebrates the re-opening of the HIV Comprehensive Care Clinic at the Dr. Teófilo Hernández Hospital in El Seibo Province
March 23, 2016 | Announcement

The Eastern Regional Health Services Department celebrated the reopening of the HIV Comprehensive Care Clinic at the Dr. Teófilo Hernández Hospital in El Seibo Province, Dominican Republic, on Tuesday, March 15th, 2016. Claudia Allers, Director of the Advancing Partners and Communities (APC) project in the Dominican Republic, led the ceremony with the Regional Director of Health, Dr. José Rodriguéz.

APC Dominican Republic's Program Director Receives Recognition on International Women's Day
March 10, 2016 | Announcement

Angela De Leon Navarro, the Programmatic Director of the APC project in the Dominican Republic, received recognition on International Women's Day from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) for her commitment as a faculty member at the School of Journalism.

For a Planet 50-50 by 2030: An International Women's Day Message from APC Dominican Republic
March 08, 2016 | Announcement

The Advancing Partners & Communities (APC) project in the Dominican Republic shared its thoughts on International Women's Day and the work the remains to be done in order to achieve gender equality.

2015

Presentation Of Key Findings From An Assessment Of The Health And Social Needs Of Trans Persons In The Dominican Republic
December 03, 2015 | Event

On Friday, November 4, The Advancing Partners & Communities (APC) project is hosting a dissemination meeting to present to key partners the findings and recommendations from an assessment of the health and social needs of trans persons in the Dominican Republic. The assessment was carried out in collaboration with the Center for Integrated Training and Research (COIN) with academic support from the Iberoamericana University (UNIBE), and the active participation of community-based organizations representing trans communities in the Dominican Republic.

The meeting will include work group sessions to encourage partners to use the assessment findings and begin planning follow up activities. Approximately 75 representatives from government, civil society, and donor agencies are expected to attend the event.

Join us as we work to integrate the needs of trans people into the national agenda.

When Identities are Repressed and Persecuted
December 03, 2015 | Blog

Advancing Partners & Communities's Aysa Saleh-Ramirez considers the profound psychosocial barriers faced by transgender people in seeking and receiving HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and other basic health services.