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HIV/AIDS prevention and care for men and women in uniform (shown here during a World AIDS Day parade last December in Man) are part of the comprehensive package of services supported by the U.S. government’s PEPFAR initiative.

PEPFAR budget rises to record $120 million to expand fight against HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire

The U.S. government’s PEPFAR initiative has approved a plan to spend $120.5 million USD (about 51.831.298.290 FCFA) to extend the fight against HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire, an increase of 43% from the previous fiscal year.

The budget, covering the period April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009, will support 37 prime partners and more than 75 subpartners providing HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services throughout the country.

The money will be used by Ivorian ministries, international and national nongovernmental organizations, and local community- and faith-based organizations to strengthen and extend programs, with an emphasis on delivering high-quality services to all parts of the population that need them.

“The American people remain committed to helping Cote d’Ivoire build a future free from the fear of HIV/AIDS,” U.S. Ambassador Wanda L. Nesbitt said in a statement. “This large funding increase reflects our commitment to helping Cote d'Ivoire strengthen its health care system and is part of our contribution to the government's ‘sortie de crise’ program. The increased level of funding also represents the high level of confidence we have in our PEPFAR partners working to save and improve lives in every corner of the country.”

PEPFAR (the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) is entering its fifth year of a $15 billion initiative to help countries around the world turn back the tide of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Cote d’Ivoire is one of 15 priority countries selected for intensive U.S. support. A second five-year phase of PEPFAR is expected to be approved by the U.S. government this year.

In Fiscal Year 2007, PEPFAR funding and technical assistance supported partners in providing HIV/AIDS care for more than 74,000 people, antiretroviral therapy for 34,900 people, and care and support for more than 41,000 orphans and vulnerable children.

For more information about PEPFAR, please visit the Web site http://abidjan.usembassy.gov/pepfar.html.