Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DJIBOUTI347
2006-03-19 13:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:  

LAUNCH OF U.S. REGIONAL "ROADS" HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

Tags:  PREL PGOV KHIV EAID SOCI DJ 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000347 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF AND AF/E
STATE ALSO PASS USAID
NAIROBI FOR REDSO DIRECTOR ANDREW SISSON
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KHIV EAID SOCI DJ
SUBJECT: LAUNCH OF U.S. REGIONAL "ROADS" HIV/AIDS PROGRAM
IN DJIBOUTI


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000347

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF AND AF/E
STATE ALSO PASS USAID
NAIROBI FOR REDSO DIRECTOR ANDREW SISSON
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KHIV EAID SOCI DJ
SUBJECT: LAUNCH OF U.S. REGIONAL "ROADS" HIV/AIDS PROGRAM
IN DJIBOUTI



1. (U) USAID and U.S. Embassy in Djibouti launched March 2
its regional HIV/AIDS program in Djibouti entitled the "ROADS
Project." The "ROADS Project" supports local activities to
mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS. It is principally funded
by the Regional Economic Development Support Office (REDSO),
with additional funds from USAID/Djibouti. The main feature
of the "ROADS Project" is the "Safe-T-Stop", a package of
services the program will provide at the target PK12 truck
stop, located along the main transport corridor between the
port of Djibouti and Addis Ababa. The package includes
improved health services such as counseling and testing, as
well as improved treatment for People Living with HIV/AIDS
(PLWHA). The project also includes communication messages
targeting vulnerable groups like women, youth and truck
drivers, informing them of risks as well as options for a
healthy life, and multi-sector planning to improve relations
among different community groups by creating a dialogue among
truckers and local community members, as well as between
youth and community leaders.


2. (U) The launch took place at the PK 12 truck stop.
Ambassador Ragsdale, Minister of Health Abdallah Abdullahi
Miguil, Nairobi-based REDSO Director Andrew Sisson, USAID
Representative in Djibouti Janet Schulman, the National
Director of Djibouti's HIV/AIDS program, a representative of
Family Health International (FHI) and the Director of the PK
12 community association participated in the launch. The
ceremony began with a truck parade that included a truck
filled with members of the Djiboutian truck drivers'
association, sporting a large banner that read "Safe-T-Stop,"
the official logo of the ROADS project.


3. (U) In his role as master of ceremony, the FHI Country
Program Director made opening remarks about the new program
and its collaborative effort with the government of Djibouti.
He also pointed out the large, yellow billboard along the
side of the road, with the "Safe-T-Stop" logo in English on
one side and in French on the other. This billboard, he
said, will be a constant reminder to truckers and community
members of services provided and of HIV/AIDS awareness. In
his turn, REDSO Director thanked FHI and the Government of
Djibouti for starting this latest project and said the
project had already brought hope to thousands of people in
other countries. REDSO Director expressed the belief that it
would do the same for the people of Djibouti.


4. (U) Ambassador thanked the Government of Djibouti for its
partnership with the U.S. in improving health and education
in the country. She said progress in development could not
be realized without addressing the problem of HIV/AIDS. She
added that the ROADS project, with its "Safe-T-Stop" theme
would be a value added to the overall HIV/AIDS program in
Djibouti, targeting vulnerable populations, and helping
preserve the gains already made by the government.


5. (U) The Minister of Health closed the ceremony by thanking
USAID, FHI and the National Aids Program Director for
launching a program aimed at improving the condition and
knowledge of at-risk populations living along the transport
corridor between Djibouti and Ethiopia. He told the
community members that their role is not to stand by
passively and wait for services, but to engage actively in
educating neighbors, protecting themselves, and going to
clinics for testing and treatment, as necessary. He ended by
thanking both REDSO Director and Ambassador for their
continuing support and said he hoped the "Safe-T-Stop" would
soon find its way to other at-risk communities along the
corridor.


6. (U) COMMENT: USAID intends that this program compliment
existing programs launched by the government of Djibouti and
will make every effort to avoid duplication as well as
leverage its position to further other important HIV/AIDS
activities. These include development of a surveillance
system. Since 2003, Djibouti has received over USD
19,000,000 in funding (World Bank and Global Fund) to support
HIV/AIDS programs. To date, however, no reliable information
on HIV prevalence or AIDS-related deaths exists. USAID will
work closely with both the Minister of Health and Djibouti's
National AIDS Director to remedy this deficiency as this
important information will be needed for future planning once
current resources have been implemented. End Comment.
RAGSDALE