Member Associations

Gestos is a philanthropic organization founded in 1993 by sociologist Acioli Neto, journalist Alessandra Nilo, sociologist Márcia Andrade and social worker Silvia Dantas. The first project developed was supported by MISEREOR and focused on psychological care for people living with AIDS, as well as the training of information multipliers in the poorest communities of the Metropolitan Region of Recife. Since then, they have effectively contributed to guaranteeing the human rights of people living with HIV and AIDS. About 70% of the people who have sought legal support from the institution have had their rights redressed, through precautionary measures and sentences, which today are even part of the list of jurisprudence on the subject of Law and AIDS. Throughout its history, the organization has considered communication as fundamental in the fight against AIDS and has fought to expand this understanding in Pernambuco, Brazil and Latin America. This vision has consolidated Gestos as an important reference in Communication and AIDS in the country, with special emphasis on discussions on Public Policies on Health Communication. They also help to form new civil society organizations, such as the National Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (RNPVHA - 1995), the Positive Work Group - GTP+ (2000), the Group of Positive Actions (2003), the Group of Support to HIV Positive People (GASP) 2003, Acts of Citizenship (2006). From 2007 to 2011, Gestos created and coordinated the UNGASS-AIDS Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Health, where it oversaw the implementation of agreements signed at the UN in sixteen developing countries. The UNGASS-AIDS Forum has established itself as a space for political debate on issues related to HIV and AIDS and sexual and reproductive health and rights. They are also a consultative NGO at the UN, with ECOSOC status since 2017.   Instagram Twitter

The Cameroon National Association for Family Welfare (CAMNAFAW) was created in 1987 to respond to the needs of women who wanted to plan their families and to enjoy higher standards of living. The organization has rapidly grown into the country’s leading provider of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. The challenges facing the people of Cameroon and the organization are severe. This is a country with very high levels of maternal death and child mortality and an HIV prevalence rate of over 10%. Health provision is limited: CAMNAFAW is working tirelessly to deliver to populations in the greatest and most urgent need of SRH support.  Through its service points, including dedicated youth sites, run by full-time staff and supported by over a thousand volunteers, CAMNAFAW provides a complete suite of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. It offers family planning, vaccination, paediatric care services, antenatal and post-natal care, post-abortion care, the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted and opportunistic infections, screening of cancers of the reproductive system, general laboratory work, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), home-based care, and education programmes aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS. An estimated 80% of clients are poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served. These include people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV), sex workers, and unmarried men and women.  CAMNAFAW works in partnership with government and with non-governmental organisations including Care Cameroon, Femmes-Santé-Developpement en Afrique Sub-Saharienne (FESADE), the Youth Development Foundation, OFSAD, Scouts du Cameroun, the Support Centre for New Local Development Alternatives (CANADEL), Service Catholique de la Santé, Service Protestant de la Santé, the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA Cameroon), and the Réseau. Camerounais des associations des Personnes vivants avec le VIH (Récap+). CAMNAFAW receives support from the Government of Cameroon, UNFPA, the Government of Japan, the IPPF Japan Trust Fund, Care Cameroun, and CAREF.