Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DJIBOUTI936
2005-09-19 13:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:  

HEALTH MINISTER FOCUSES ON REFORM AND GLOBAL FUND

Tags:  PREL EAID SOCI DJ UN 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000936 

SIPDIS


STATE FOR AF AND AF/E
STATE ALSO PASS USAID
NAIROBI FOR AID/REDSO
PARIS/LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID SOCI DJ UN
SUBJECT: HEALTH MINISTER FOCUSES ON REFORM AND GLOBAL FUND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DJIBOUTI


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000936

SIPDIS


STATE FOR AF AND AF/E
STATE ALSO PASS USAID
NAIROBI FOR AID/REDSO
PARIS/LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID SOCI DJ UN
SUBJECT: HEALTH MINISTER FOCUSES ON REFORM AND GLOBAL FUND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DJIBOUTI



1. (U) Summary: In separate meetings September 13 with
USAID Representative and Ambassador, Minister of Health,
Abdallah Abdillahi Miguil, focused on health development
and reform of Djibouti's Ministry of Health. Cost recovery
for renovation of Peltier and improving health services
and human resources would be a major issue for his ministry
and for the government. The Minister also expressed
disappointment that Djibouti's application to the Fifth
Round of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
had been turned down by the Global Fund.
Ambassador pledged assistance of USAID staff in helping
the Ministry address issues raised in the Global Fund's
technical evaluation of the proposal. End Summary.


2. (U) In a meeting September 13 with USAID Representative,
accompanied by USAID/Djibouti Senior Health Advisor and
USAID/Djibouti Health Specialist-FSN, Minister of Health
Abdallah Abdillahi Miguil reviewed his plans for
health reform in Djibouti. These plans include renovating
and reviewing functions of its primary hospital, Peltier,
improving human resources, and improving the quality of
health services. For the Minister, cost recovery was a
major issue. He said the Ministry of Health had developed
a plan for it and the plan would be shared with USAID. In
addition, Miguil said, the Ministry had already begun
implementing a cost recovery program at two hospitals,
including Peltier, and that a briefing meeting on the
subject would be held by the end of October.


3. (U) The Minister also voiced his concern about the
small percentage of the national budget that goes to
support his Ministry. Currently only 4% of the budget
is allocated for the Ministry of Health. He suggested
that USAID exert all pressure possible on the central
government to assist in convincing the government to
increase his ministry's budget.


4. (U) USAID representative asked the Minister about
his views on the joint health and education program
with the Ministry of Education to fight drug usage,
including khat. She wanted to know if the Minister
was still on board for the program and sought additional
ideas he had about the approach, including the role

envisaged for USAID. She cited USAID's many years of
experience in other African countries developing and
using telemedia to educate the public about health
issues such as HIV/AIDS and other diseases. The Minister
said that at this time, his Ministry does not have a
clear policy on health education, but that he would
convene a small planning team to look into the matter.
The Minister added that he intended to launch a
large anti-drug campaign on November 20, during
the worldwide "Day of the Child" celebration.


5. (U) The Minister also indicated that he will
seek technical assistance from USAID as well as
other partners to help the Ministry of Health evaluate
whether or not it can achieve the objectives of its
"National Health Reform Strategy". The evaluation
might help the Ministry make slight adjustments, as
needed, in order that overall objectives are more readily
attained.


6. (U) Miguil noted to USAID representative that the
next health "Donor Coordination" meeting would be held
during the first week of October. He voiced his
concern that the World Health Organization (WHO)
holds the presidency of this committee rather than
himself. USAID representative agreed that the
Minister should chair this committee, and that USAID
would work to see that the change was made. It
was reported, as well, that the technical committee
on human resources of the "Donor Coordination" group,
met in June to discuss progress and efforts made
to improve human resources within the Ministry of
Health. Another meeting will be held later in
October.


7. (U) USAID representative noted during the meeting
that her agency was working to help create an improved
health information system, that was computer-based, but
many obstacles to its development remain. A similar
program was developed within the Ministry of Education
with USAID assistance, and that the same could be done
within the Ministry of Health.


8. (U) During a separate meeting the same day with
Ambassador and USAID Representative, the Minister
conveyed his disappointment over the failure of Djibouti
to secure additional resources from the Global Fund
for Djibouti's Tuberculosis and Malaria prevention
and treatment proposal, which was submitted for the
5th round of funding. He gave a copy to the Ambassador
of the technical evaluation provided by the Fund. The
Ambassador pledged the assistance of the USAID team in
working with Ministry of Health officials to help
them address the issues raised in the technical evaluation.
She, with the Minister, wanted to ensure that a
proper and comprehensive response could be submitted
before the deadline of September 22, 2005. Although
the Minister said he thought USAID representatives had
been consulted in the initial round of preparation of
Djibouti's proposal, it was subsequently learned that
USAID had not been asked to provide input into the
original application for this round.

RAGSDALE