AMBASSADOR PARTICIPATES IN USLO LAUNCH OF HIV/AIDS

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 001251

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/E, AF/PD AND AF/RA
CENTCOM FOR J-5
DOD FOR ISA/AF

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS EAID KHIV DJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PARTICIPATES IN USLO LAUNCH OF HIV/AIDS
PROJECT



1. (U) In a ceremony at the garrison of the Djiboutian Armed
Forces on December 22, Ambassador formally handed over to
Commanding General of the Djibouti Armed Forces, Fathi Ahmed
Hussein, HIV/AIDS laboratory equipment and furnishings
necessary to conduct sero-prevalence surveys in Djibouti.
Also attending were General Zakaria Cheikh Ibrahim, Chief of
Staff of the Djiboutian Armed Forces, a host of other
Djiboutian military officers, U.S. Liaison Office (USLO)
Chief, and Embassy Djibouti DCM.


2. (U) In her speech delivered at the launch, Ambassador said
AIDS is a tragedy for millions of men, women and children
throughout the world and is a grave public health threat to
the stability of nations. She expressed the embassy's pride
in being able to stand with the Djiboutians in general, and
with the Armed Forces of Djibouti in particular, against this
threat. She noted that AIDS had afflicted at least 10,000
persons in Djibouti and that more are at peril. She noted
the importance of the laboratory for those of the military
community who are more broadly exposed in the society to this
plague. Ambassador also noted the role played by the
Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) in taking
up locally the fight against the proliferation of AIDS in the
region.


3. (U) General Fathi, in his speech, thanked the Ambassador
for her presence and noted the support of the U.S. in general
in the campaign against AIDS. He affirmed Djibouti's
political will, as reiterated by the President of Djibouti,
to fight the AIDS pandemic. He praised the Health Division
within the military for its efficient use of the resources
provided by other nations and said the material Djibouti
received from the U.S. this day will no doubt permit the
country to achieve its objectives in the domain of HIV/AIDS
prevention and care and to maximize its internal health
capacity.


4. (U) The Djiboutian Armed Forces began benefiting at the
beginning for FY-2004 from Department of Defense HIV/AIDS
Prevention Program (DHAPP) funds, under FMF, to fight against
HIV/AIDS. Initial funding purchased necessary equipment and
materials to start the program. This was followed by
sensitization campaigns among military personnel and climaxed
in a grant of USD 232,000 for purchase of the laboratory
equipment and furnishings handed over in the ceremony on
December 22. As of December 22, only a portion of the
equipment requested is in country. The remainder is expected
to arrive in Djibouti by the second week of January 2006.
However training on use of all equipment has already taken
place under USLO auspices.
RAGSDALE