Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05AMMAN4885
2005-06-19 03:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

Jordan Supports Global Fund Phase 2 Renewal

Tags:  TBIO SOCI KHIV EAID JO 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 004885 

SIPDIS

STATE for S/GAC
STATE PASS USAID for GH/MMiller
HHS for Global Health/Steiger

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO SOCI KHIV EAID JO
SUBJECT: Jordan Supports Global Fund Phase 2 Renewal

Ref: State 103678

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 004885

SIPDIS

STATE for S/GAC
STATE PASS USAID for GH/MMiller
HHS for Global Health/Steiger

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO SOCI KHIV EAID JO
SUBJECT: Jordan Supports Global Fund Phase 2 Renewal

Ref: State 103678


1. Summary: Post recommends reftel Phase 2 renewal of
Jordan's grant under the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS in
Jordan. The Global Fund grant has been utilized effectively
and complements efforts made by the Government of Jordan
(GOJ) and other donors to combat HIV/AIDS. Jordan's Country
Coordinating Mechanism has a wide variety of participants
and does an excellent job of coordinating and involving all
partners. USAID was recently added to the Country
Coordinating Mechanism. End summary.

Very Good Results in Several Areas
--------------

2. Jordan's grant under the Global Fund is JOR-202-G01-H-

00. Phase 2 would be for $705,300. Based on Jordan's
effective performance so far in meeting the goals
established for this grant, post recommends that the Global
Fund continue to fully fund this project.


3. Jordan's HIV/AIDS program has achieved very good results
in the following areas:
1) increasing information, communication and Voluntary
Counseling and Testing (VCT) throughout Jordan and
especially for vulnerable groups;
2) establishing an HIV/AIDS surveillance system that
includes high-risk behaviors;
3) improving care and support of people living with
HIV/AIDS; and
4) maintaining a high level of blood safety, and exercising
infection control in health care settings.

USAID and Contractor Have Complete Access
--------------

4. USAID has contracted with the NGO Family Health
International (FHI) to provide technical assistance to
Jordan for the implementation of the Global Fund grant. FHI
has a seat on the Country Coordinating Mechanism and has
been able to closely monitor the implementation of the
Global Fund grant.

Global Fund Fills Gaps, Addresses Needs
--------------

5. Post feels Jordan's Global Fund National Plan is
appropriate for its situation as a country with a low
prevalence of HIV/AIDS. In particular, the Global Fund
grant provided treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS
that would otherwise not have been available, and thus
effectively filled gaps in Jordan's National Strategy.


6. The Global Fund grant was implemented region by region,

as planned, over the last eighteen months and now addresses
most, but not all, of the planned target groups. One
hundred percent of the people living with HIV/AIDS are
covered by anti-retroviral treatment, and an adequate supply
of safe blood has been maintained. Jordan's capacity to
implement the grant has improved during the grant period in
part because of the Global Fund's technical requirements,
administrative requirements and overall guidance. Jordan
has implemented its program in a timely manner and has met
its performance requirements.

Country Coordinating Mechanism - Broad Based, Effective
-------------- --------------

7. The Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) successfully
fosters coordination and cooperation between the Government
of Jordan (GOJ),international donors, NGOs and the private
sector. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Health
heads the CCM, which has been expanded over the last six
years to include several government ministries, NGOs
including USAID-contractor Family Health International, the
Chair of the UN Theme Group on AIDS, the World Health
Organization representative, the private sector and,
recently, USAID. The CCM meets at least four times a year
and ad hoc as required. Post feels that the CCM plays an
active and positive role in coordination, oversight, policy-
making and outreach on HIV/AIDS, and that governmental
bodies play an important but not overwhelming role in the
CCM.


8. The Ministry of Health, as Principal Recipient, can
request organizations and sectors involved in HIV/AIDS to
nominate new members to the CCM. Organizations can also ask
to become members of the CCM, and those requests are usually
approved if the organization is making a real contribution
toin HIV/AIDS work.


9. Post evaluation is that private sector participation,
through the Jordan Medical Association, in the CCM is
adequate but post feels that this aspect of the CCM could be
enhanced. The CCM encourages and welcomes private sector
participation but these efforts have borne little fruit so
far. At a recent consultation on the National Strategy,
participants identified expansion of private sector
participation in the National Strategy as a priority goal.
The private sector becomes more involved when individual
projects are implemented.


10. A complete list of the organizations on the CCM
follows:
-- Ministry of Health (multiple departments)
-- Red Crescent Society (NGO)
-- UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
-- Jordan Association for Family Planning (NGO)
-- University of Jordan (multiple departments)
-- Royal Medical Services (government)
-- National Blood Bank (government)
-- Jordan Medical Association (private)
-- IMPACT project/Family Health International (NGO)
-- Jordan Food and Drug Administration
-- USAID
-- Jordan University for Science and Technology
-- World Health Organization
-- Jordanian Thoracic Association (NGO)
-- Jordan Anti-TB Association (NGO)
-- Annoor Sanatorium (NGO)
-- Al-Basheer Hospital (government)

Political Support Strong - Ready to Face Sensitive Issues
-------------- --------------

11. There has been strong political support from both the
Ministry of Health and from the Palace for combating
HIV/AIDS and keeping Jordan a low prevalence country. The
CCM recently convened a large stakeholders meeting to
solicit feedback on a draft National HIV/AIDS Strategy
Action Plan developed through widespread consultation with
stakeholders. The Minister of Health will submit the final
version of the Plan to the Prime Minister. The top-level
approval by the Prime Minister for the National Action Plan
is seen as formalizing the political support needed to
publicly address socially sensitive issues such as stigma,
male-male sex and discrimination against people living with
HIV/AIDS.

Weaknesses Exist but Are Known and Being Confronted
-------------- --------------

12. While Jordan's capacity for combating HIV/AIDS is
imperfect, post feels that the CCM has done a good job in
identifying weaknesses, creating plans for correcting those
weaknesses, and implementing those corrective measures. For
example, the CCM identified Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
of HIV/AIDS as an area that needed strengthening. As a
result, USAID through Family Health International is
assisting the GOJ in developing a high-quality M&E plan.
Jordan had sufficient levels of technical expertise to
implement its National HIV/AIDS Strategy Action Plan.
Jordan also has placed a high priority in its work to date
to strengthen its human and technical capacity to combat
HIV/AIDS.

Success Stories: VCT, Peer Education
--------------

13. Jordan has had successes already in its work on
HIV/AIDS. Specifically, with assistance from USAID, Jordan
established Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Centers
in Amman and four other locations around Jordan. USAID also
supported a successful peer education program at two
Jordanian universities. Both the VCT centers and the peer
education programs were an active collaboration between the
Global Fund, the Ministry of Health, USAID and Family Health
International.

Post Has Good Internal Capacity, Cooperation
--------------

14. Post has good internal capacity in its USAID offices on
HIV/AIDS issues, and coordinates well between State and
USAID. Post management has created an Embassy HIV/AIDS
committee headed by the DCM. Working level members of the
committee are currently developing a post-specific HIV/AIDS
plan based on best practices from other embassies.


15. Embassy contacts for further information about Jordan's
work on HIV/AIDS are Mr. David Piet (dpiet@usaid.gov) and
Dr. Salwa Bitar Qteit (sqteit@usaid.gov).


16. Post acknowledges reftel heads-up on a short-fuse
action request expected at the beginning of July to review
Global Fund scorecard.

HALE