EMBASSY NEWSCENTRE

The United States Government Announces Commitment of $42 million to Fight HIV/AIDS in Cote d’Ivoire for 2005 (June 15, 2005)

PEPFAR Technical Director Monica Nolan talks with lab technicians at a HIV/AIDS clinic in the Yopougon neighborhood of Abidjan (Photo: Brett Bruen/US Embassy)

(ABIDJAN) – The United States government announced today that under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Cote d’Ivoire will receive $42 million this year to help win the battle against HIV/AIDS.  This unprecedented sum is part of a five year, fifteen billion dollar commitment by the United States to combating HIV/AIDS around the world, with targeted efforts in fifteen of the worst affected countries, including Cote d’Ivoire.  In addition to this significant financial commitment, the United States has also provided 33% of the financing for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.  Together these historic pledges represent the largest effort ever by any nation against any disease.

PEPFAR will contribute to the prevention of 265,000 new HIV/AIDS infections in Cote d’Ivoire, while treating 77,000 Ivorians who have already been infected with the disease, and providing care for 385,000 orphans and vulnerable children who have been infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.  Globally, the program seeks to prevent seven million new infections, while treating two million people infected with HIV/AIDS, and offering care to ten million orphans and vulnerable children.

“While this is undoubtedly the boldest and largest program ever of its kind in Cote d’Ivoire, PEPFAR is more than just large numbers, it is about individuals and communities,” remarked American Ambassador Aubrey Hooks in announcing the US commitment for 2005.  “The lives we’re speaking of are of our neighbors, friends, and colleagues.  Those presently suffering from HIV/AIDS will be given hope and enjoy brighter futures thanks to the work of PEPFAR.  Those will be the real results of this program.”

The future will also be brighter for the health care capacity of Cote d’Ivoire.  PEPFAR is doing more than merely throwing money at a problem.  Instead, working closely with the Ivorian government, civil society, and local businesses, PEPFAR is improving the infrastructure and human capacity of Ivorian health care to better respond to this and other diseases.  This work has already begun. 

Through PEPFAR, health care professionals are being trained, clinics are being created, laboratories are being provided with the latest in health care technology, and coordination between all of the various actors working on HIV/AIDS is being streamlined.  The Ivorian Minister of Health recently led a high-level delegation of American and Ivorian officials to the international PEPFAR conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in order to improve coordination of global efforts and to share experiences with others working to fight HIV/AIDS.  Next week, PEPFAR will hold a national meeting in Yamoussoukro to coordinate activities with its implementing partners. With this coordination in place, this year will bring a dramatic enhancement in HIV/AIDS services in Cote d’Ivoire.

 

“In partnership with all sectors of Ivorian society, PEPFAR aims to dramatically scale up efforts to provide comprehensive prevention, care, and treatment services in order to mitigate the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Cote d’Ivoire,” said Dr. Monica Nolan, the CDC Chief of Party (2003-07) of PEPFAR in Cote d’Ivoire.  “Together, with the strong support of our Ivorian partners and the international community, we will be able to defeat this disease and to bring new hope to its many victims. ”
 

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