ANOTHER LOOK AT HIV/AIDS IN ARMENIA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000550

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE, EUR/PGI

DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KHIV SOCI EAID ECON AM
SUBJECT: ANOTHER LOOK AT HIV/AIDS IN ARMENIA


SENSITIVE

REFTEL: YEREVAN 522


1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified. Please treat
accordingly.

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SUMMARY
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2. (SBU) Summary: Armenia's proximity to countries hit
hard by the HIV/AIDS epidemic (Russia, Georgia and
Ukraine) raises concerns about its vulnerability and
the actions the GOAM is taking to address the problem.
Experts agree that, while there is a low incidence of
HIV/AIDS in Armenia at present, it is important to
increase efforts at awareness and education to counter
the problem before it grows out of hand. The USD 7.2
million grant to Armenia from the UN Global Aids Fund
(25 percent funded by the USG) has bolstered the
international donor community's efforts in this field.
The USG is offering technical assistance as the GOAM
combines the country's main HIV/AIDS and sexually
transmitted infection (STI) centers. HIV/AIDS
awareness and prevention campaigns will only be
successful among Armenia's mostly conservative society
if the GOAM supports awareness campaigns that
aggressively address this traditionally taboo issue.
End Summary.

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HIV/AIDS INCIDENCE STILL RELATIVELY LOW
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3. (U) Many in the international community jump to the
conclusion that Armenia, like its neighbor Georgia, is
suffering from an HIV/AIDS epidemic that reaches far
into the population. Although many experts believe
that the GOAM continues to underestimate the problem
(the GOAM reports there are only 252 registered cases
of HIV/AIDS in the country),most experts agree that
its scope is still relatively limited. The UN
categorizes Armenia as a "basic" country in terms of
HIV/AIDS incidence. This classification presumes that
less than one percent of the total population carries
the infection.


4. (U) The relatively low degree of HIV/AIDS in Armenia
is a bit of an anomaly given the aggressive spread of
the disease in neighboring Russia, Georgia and other
CIS countries. Many point to Armenia's isolation
during the early 1990s and early efforts aimed at
awareness and prevention as reasons for the low level
of infection. Some Diaspora advocacy groups have
expressed concern to us, however, that the increasing
flows of migrants between Russia and Armenia (mostly as
seasonal laborers) may eventually lead to increased
rates of HIV/AIDS infection in Armenia.


5. (U) Health experts believe that transmission of
HIV/AIDS in Armenia takes place via heterosexual
intercourse within high-risk populations. Like many
countries in the region, Armenia's high-risk population
consists mainly of intravenous drug users, commercial
sex workers, military personnel, migrant workers, and
prison populations.

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GLOBAL FUND PROGRAMS AIM TO KEEP INCIDENCE LOW
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6. (U) The UN Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS allocated
USD 7.2 Million to Armenia in 2003. Experts report
that this is a healthy sum for a country like Armenia
and should fund a substantial program with national
reach. These monies will be used for education,
awareness and prevention programs. In addition,
programs for voluntary testing and counseling centers
will open throughout the country. These centers will
work through a network of local NGOS. USAID is working
with the primary recipient, World Vision, to facilitate
the program. According to information from the
Ministry of Health, the GOAM will likely not apply to
the Global Fund for AIDS-related programs in FY '05 but
will instead apply for Tuberculosis (TB) funding.

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GOAM MERGING AIDS, STI EFFORTS
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7. (U) Beyond the specific question of HIV/AIDS,
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) remain a serious
problem in Armenia. Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis and
other infections spread more rapidly among the Armenian
population, but have received less attention from the
global community. While GOAM resources to confront the
spread of STIs remain limited, donor community programs
(including USG assistance efforts) are working to curb
this problem.


8. (U) The GOAM recently merged the Armenian National
STI Center and the Armenian HIV/AIDS Center into one
management unit. The former director of the STI center
will now serve as the director of the new combined
entity. This move has bureaucratic implications that
could affect its ability to apply for and administer
future funding. USAID is monitoring the situation
carefully to facilitate a smooth merger that won't
damage ongoing projects.

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COMMENT
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9. (SBU) As in many places, the HIV/AIDS issue hits
sensitive nerves in Armenia's traditionally
conservative society. While there is political will
from the high-levels of the GOAM and within the
healthcare community to address the issue, the real
work of education, awareness and prevention lies with
the everyday population. High expectations about the
much-touted Armenecum treatment for HIV/AIDS (developed
by Armenian scientists) appears to have waned in recent
months, leaving Armenia to face the more mundane but
dangerous reality of keeping the epidemic under control
and treating those already infected by the disease.
The GOAM will have to support donor community efforts
to create buy-in among the population if prevention
efforts are to succeed.

ORDWAY