Bringing Relief, Restoring Hope in Myanmar
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AHF Myanmar team prepares essential items for those most affected by the natural disaster.
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After a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, killing more than 4,000 people and injuring nearly 8,000, AHF quickly mobilized to deliver emergency relief to affected communities.
Collaborating closely with the Myanmar Medical Association and other partners, AHF teams donated surgical and trauma supplies to local overwhelmed hospitals and delivered more than 100 emergency kits with essential items to the hardest-hit families in Pyinmana.
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"The earthquake collapsed thousands of buildings and severely damaged critical infrastructure in numerous cities and towns, leaving the government unable to deal with the disaster," said AHF Myanmar Country Program Director Dr. Win Oo. "AHF always responds to crises and supports people in need, and we are proud to mobilize to help our communities."
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Dr. Sarath Chhim, AHF Asia Bureau Chief, joins Dr. Win Oo and staff to meet with injured people and deliver essential supplies to a local medical site.
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With relief efforts still underway, outreach teams continue door-to-door visits—providing food, essential supplies, and health education talks for displaced residents at relief sites.
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AHF leads health education sessions at a relief site ahead of monsoon season in May, when the risk of communicable disease outbreaks is expected to rise.
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Muralist Robert Vargas Honors AHF’s Food for Health Program
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Muralist Robert Vargas adds the final touches to his piece, Nourish the Soul, at AHF's Food for Health pantry at the Sinclair Hotel in Los Angeles.
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Watch the above video to go behind the scenes with Robert Vargas and experience the story behind his Food for Health murals.
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World-renowned Los Angeles muralist Robert Vargas recently unveiled two new murals honoring Food for Health, AHF's free fresh food distribution program. The murals were revealed at the Sinclair Hotel, one of AHF’s affordable housing buildings, transforming the space into a bold celebration of nourishment, resilience, and community strength.
“We are honored to unveil these powerful murals by the incredible Robert Vargas—tributes to resilience, community, and the fight against food insecurity,” said Carlos Marroquin, National Director for AHF’s Food for Health programs. “These artworks embody the mission of Food for Health: bringing people together, nourishing hope, and ensuring no one is left behind. We believe art has the power to inspire change, and these murals will stand as lasting testaments to the strength of the communities we serve.”
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AHF Zimbabwe’s Bold Campaign Hits the Road
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Zimbabwe Gender Commissioner Obert Matshalaga cuts the ribbon to officially launch the campaign.
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In the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, a bold stand against child marriage is hitting the road—literally—with AHF Zimbabwe’s launch of a striking billboard on a public transport bus that reads: End Child Marriages. My Future, My Choice with the hashtag #KeepGirlsHIVFree.
The initiative is vital because child marriage increases girls' risk of HIV, as they are often paired with older men who hide their HIV-positive status and avoid using condoms, limiting girls’ power to choose safer sex.
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AHF established its Girls Act Hub in the heart of a region deeply affected by child marriage.
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Partnering with the Zimbabwe Passenger Company, the bus spreads awareness visually and acts as a mobile platform for change. Before each trip, a volunteer speaks to passengers about the dangers of child marriage, sparking conversations and shifting mindsets.
A toll-free number is displayed on the billboard, connecting people directly to support services for reporting abuse or seeking help.
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The campaign builds on AHF’s work in Zimbabwe to reduce new HIV infections among young people, particularly girls and young women. In Eastern and Southern Africa, girls and young women aged 15–24 account for 20% of new HIV infections despite representing only 10% of the population. In Zimbabwe, the HIV prevalence among unmarried female youth aged 15 to 24 is 6%, compared to 14% of those who are married.
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An estimated 12 million girls are married before age 18 each year—approximately one every three seconds, according to Girls Not Brides.
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A Milestone for HIV Care: 25 Years of Inclusive Support in Bulgaria
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From left: Tamera Prinsenberg, AHF Europe Advocacy and Policy Manager; Elena Birindzhieva, President of HWB Bulgaria; and Michal Pawlega, AHF Europe Prevention, Testing and Linkage Manager.
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AHF recently joined the Health Without Borders (HWB) Association in celebrating 25 years of transformative service—empowering communities, breaking stigma, and changing lives across Bulgaria. With Bulgaria being the newest country program in the AHF Europe Bureau, launched in May 2024, the partnership has already made strides in expanding access to community-based HIV services across the country.
At the center of this collaboration is CheckPoint Sofia—Bulgaria’s only community-based HIV testing center—offering free, confidential, and judgment-free HIV and STI testing and treatment services. With a person-centered approach, the clinic supports individuals through the full continuum of HIV care, from testing and diagnosis to treatment initiation and viral suppression.
“Change happens when we stand by people, support them without judgment, and lead with care,” said Elena Birindzhieva, President of HWB Bulgaria. "That’s what our work with AHF is all about."
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