MOZAMBIQUE: GOVERNMENT WARNS ITS CITIZENS ON WORLD

UNCLAS MAPUTO 001582

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR HTREGER; AF/PD
USAID FOR AFR/SA
MCC FOR SGAULL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KHIV TBIO EAID MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: GOVERNMENT WARNS ITS CITIZENS ON WORLD
AIDS DAY

Ref: Maputo 1497
Maputo 1531


1. Senior government officials continued their candid
dialogue in commemoration of World AIDS Day on December 1.
President Armando Guebuza, although out of the country on
official travel, issued a written statement focusing
particularly on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the fight against
poverty, its terrible threat to the country's youth, and the
continuing problems of stigma and discrimination faced by
those infected with the disease. (Note: An estimated 16
percent of Mozambicans aged 15-49 were HIV positive in 2004.
End Note.) Combating poverty was the main theme of the
recent FRELIMO party congress, and Guebuza stressed that the
surge in HIV/AIDS cases had become a major obstacle to
implementing the government's anti-poverty agenda. He noted
that youth were especially affected, given that more than
half of the 500 new infections occurring daily were among
people between the ages of 15 and 29. Guebuza scolded
Mozambicans for giving in to the prevailing atmosphere of
stigma and discrimination, which discourages testing and
divides families, and instead encouraged sympathy,
compassion, and care for infected members of society.


2. Prime Minister Diogo officially represented the
government in Manjacaze, Gaza Province, at the official AIDS
Day ceremonies, which included music, dancing, a march, and
speeches encouraging education, fidelity, and proper use of
contraceptives. Echoing Guebuza's message, Diogo reiterated
the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS on Mozambican youth, whom
she referred to as the "window of hope," and urged action to
protect the "future of the country." Diogo condemned
discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS and appealed to
the African, and specifically Mozambican, tradition of
solidarity to be shown to those infected and affected by the
virus. She also repeated the government's pledge to have
anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment in all 128 districts by the
first quarter of 2007.

ARV MONITORING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM
--------------


3. In the days following World AIDS Day, the Health Ministry
organized a three-day workshop in partnership with the World
Health Organization and local NGOs to discuss the
establishment of a national monitoring and evaluation system
for patients receiving ARV therapy. The Health Ministry
envisions the establishment of such a system in coordination
with the provision of ARV in all 128 districts in 2007.

AIDS AFFECTING THE POLICE FORCE
--------------


4. The impact of HIV/AIDS is keenly felt in public
institutions. Interior Minister Jose Pacheco revealed on
the eve of World AIDS Day that in 2005 some 620 members of
the Mozambican police (approximately 2.5 percent of the
25,000 strong force) died from AIDS. In his remarks he
emphasized the serious challenge the government now faces
not only in recruiting additional members as the police
force expands, but also replacing those lost to AIDS.

COMMENT
--------------


5. HIV/AIDS has clearly become one of the most discussed
issues among senior level officials, who in the past month
have used opportunities at the FRELIMO congress and on World
AIDS Day to speak frankly and forcefully about the gravity
of the epidemic and the need for a change in attitudes.
Despite positive and widespread media coverage of the
government's message, unfortunately a majority of
Mozambicans with HIV/AIDS still do not seek treatment,
either out of ignorance or fear of discrimination. Although
the government pledges to ramp up its ARV program (as a
result of our and other donors' assistance),formidable
logistical challenges (lack of trained medical personnel,
for example) and stigma surrounding the disease remain major
constraints.

DUDLEY