Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MASERU410
2007-07-12 13:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:
LESOTHO: SPEAKER PROGRAM EVALUATION - DR. CHUEN-YEN LAU,
how-toVZCZCXRO0604 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN DE RUEHMR #0410/01 1931306 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 121306Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY MASERU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3152 INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3536
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000410
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IIP; IIP/SEG: CYNTHIA LACOVEY; AF/PD: PETER COZZENS;
AF/S
POSTS FOR PAO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KHIV OIIP SCUL LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: SPEAKER PROGRAM EVALUATION - DR. CHUEN-YEN LAU,
NIH
MASERU 00000410 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000410
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IIP; IIP/SEG: CYNTHIA LACOVEY; AF/PD: PETER COZZENS;
AF/S
POSTS FOR PAO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KHIV OIIP SCUL LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: SPEAKER PROGRAM EVALUATION - DR. CHUEN-YEN LAU,
NIH
MASERU 00000410 001.2 OF 002
1. SUMMARY: From June 18-22, Embassy Maseru hosted
international speaker Dr. Chuen-Yen Lau, an HIV/AIDS vaccine
researcher from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Lau's
speaking ability, magnetic personality, and clear grasp of her
subject matter made this an excellent program on a topic of
overwhelming importance in Lesotho - a nation with the third
highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world. Dr. Lau
persevered in the face of difficult circumstances as Maseru
experienced a restrictive curfew due to a political crisis,
forcing many of her events to be rescheduled at late notice. If
Dr. Lau is available for further speaking engagements, other
missions would be very fortunate to receive her services. END
SUMMARY.
2. Below is Embassy Maseru's official review of Dr. Lau's
program.
A. NAME OF SPEAKER/DVC/TPC GUEST AND DATE OF PROGRAM
Dr. Chuen Yen Lau of the National Institutes of Health conducted
an HIV/AIDS-related speaker program in Maseru, Lesotho, on June
18-22, 2007.
B. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE TOPICS/VENUES/AUDIENCES ADDRESSED
Dr. Lau discussed the HIV/AIDS pandemic generally, HIV/AIDS
vaccine research, male circumcision, and HIV treatment options.
Among other venues, she gave presentations at:
-- The National University of Lesotho (audience: HIV/AIDS Task
Force)
-- The U.S. Embassy's Public Diplomacy Room (audiences: doctors
and health workers, civil society, HIV/AIDS home-based care
support groups, U.S. Embassy staff)
-- Makoanyane Military Hospital (Military HIV/AIDS Team)
C. AUDIENCE SIZE
Dr. Lau directly addressed 100-200 individuals, and reached many
more through mass media outreach (see below). General audience
numbers were somewhat lower than anticipated due to general
uncertainly surrounding Lesotho's security situation during the
political impasse. However, a June 21 session for local medical
professionals was packed to capacity, and double the number of
expected physicians attended.
D. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SPEAKER IN COMMUNICATION OF INTENDED
MESSAGES TO TARGET AUDIENCE
Dr. Lau's topic presentations were well received by local
audiences. Her insights on HIV/AIDS vaccine development were
met with great enthusiasm, and one presentation attendee summed
up the feelings of her colleagues as "surprise and
enlightenment." Her presentations included practical and clear
examples, and she consistently went out her way to engage
audiences in the active discussion of issues. She was able to
effectively explain difficult scientific concepts pertaining to
HIV/AIDS vaccine research to groups without medical expertise,
including those in communities affected daily by HIV/AIDS.
E. QUALITY OF IIP SUPPORT
Excellent. As a PD-light post with limited resources, Embassy
Maseru is extremely happy to have been offered this opportunity.
We received timely updates regarding Dr. Lau's schedule and
were generally pleased with the quality of support from
Washington.
F. IMMEDIATE RESULTS / IMPACT
As addressing public health issues, and specifically the
HIV/AIDS crisis, is Embassy Maseru's number one strategic goal,
this program was directly in line with mission priorities. This
program fulfilled two objectives: 1) to better inform Lesotho's
medical and support groups about the HIV/AIDS pandemic; and 2)
to highlight the role of the United States as a leader in
HIV/AIDS research efforts. This program fulfilled both of these
objectives admirably. Dr. Lau reached out to diverse groups
involved in the fight against AIDS. She emphasized the
importance of research in evaluating and augmenting the efforts
to fight the disease. We hope that as result of this program
more of Lesotho's health institutions will take advantage of
cutting edge U.S. research in their bids to fight HIV in Africa.
G. PRESS PLACEMENT REPORTING
Embassy Maseru arranged an interview with Dr. Lau on Lesotho
Television (LTV),the nation's sole domestic television station.
The interview was broadcast on June 21, and directly addressed
MASERU 00000410 002.2 OF 002
the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Lesotho, American HIV/AIDS research,
and the work of the National Institutes of Health. We estimate
the viewership of LTV at approximately 30,000.
MURPHY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IIP; IIP/SEG: CYNTHIA LACOVEY; AF/PD: PETER COZZENS;
AF/S
POSTS FOR PAO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KHIV OIIP SCUL LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: SPEAKER PROGRAM EVALUATION - DR. CHUEN-YEN LAU,
NIH
MASERU 00000410 001.2 OF 002
1. SUMMARY: From June 18-22, Embassy Maseru hosted
international speaker Dr. Chuen-Yen Lau, an HIV/AIDS vaccine
researcher from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Lau's
speaking ability, magnetic personality, and clear grasp of her
subject matter made this an excellent program on a topic of
overwhelming importance in Lesotho - a nation with the third
highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world. Dr. Lau
persevered in the face of difficult circumstances as Maseru
experienced a restrictive curfew due to a political crisis,
forcing many of her events to be rescheduled at late notice. If
Dr. Lau is available for further speaking engagements, other
missions would be very fortunate to receive her services. END
SUMMARY.
2. Below is Embassy Maseru's official review of Dr. Lau's
program.
A. NAME OF SPEAKER/DVC/TPC GUEST AND DATE OF PROGRAM
Dr. Chuen Yen Lau of the National Institutes of Health conducted
an HIV/AIDS-related speaker program in Maseru, Lesotho, on June
18-22, 2007.
B. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE TOPICS/VENUES/AUDIENCES ADDRESSED
Dr. Lau discussed the HIV/AIDS pandemic generally, HIV/AIDS
vaccine research, male circumcision, and HIV treatment options.
Among other venues, she gave presentations at:
-- The National University of Lesotho (audience: HIV/AIDS Task
Force)
-- The U.S. Embassy's Public Diplomacy Room (audiences: doctors
and health workers, civil society, HIV/AIDS home-based care
support groups, U.S. Embassy staff)
-- Makoanyane Military Hospital (Military HIV/AIDS Team)
C. AUDIENCE SIZE
Dr. Lau directly addressed 100-200 individuals, and reached many
more through mass media outreach (see below). General audience
numbers were somewhat lower than anticipated due to general
uncertainly surrounding Lesotho's security situation during the
political impasse. However, a June 21 session for local medical
professionals was packed to capacity, and double the number of
expected physicians attended.
D. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SPEAKER IN COMMUNICATION OF INTENDED
MESSAGES TO TARGET AUDIENCE
Dr. Lau's topic presentations were well received by local
audiences. Her insights on HIV/AIDS vaccine development were
met with great enthusiasm, and one presentation attendee summed
up the feelings of her colleagues as "surprise and
enlightenment." Her presentations included practical and clear
examples, and she consistently went out her way to engage
audiences in the active discussion of issues. She was able to
effectively explain difficult scientific concepts pertaining to
HIV/AIDS vaccine research to groups without medical expertise,
including those in communities affected daily by HIV/AIDS.
E. QUALITY OF IIP SUPPORT
Excellent. As a PD-light post with limited resources, Embassy
Maseru is extremely happy to have been offered this opportunity.
We received timely updates regarding Dr. Lau's schedule and
were generally pleased with the quality of support from
Washington.
F. IMMEDIATE RESULTS / IMPACT
As addressing public health issues, and specifically the
HIV/AIDS crisis, is Embassy Maseru's number one strategic goal,
this program was directly in line with mission priorities. This
program fulfilled two objectives: 1) to better inform Lesotho's
medical and support groups about the HIV/AIDS pandemic; and 2)
to highlight the role of the United States as a leader in
HIV/AIDS research efforts. This program fulfilled both of these
objectives admirably. Dr. Lau reached out to diverse groups
involved in the fight against AIDS. She emphasized the
importance of research in evaluating and augmenting the efforts
to fight the disease. We hope that as result of this program
more of Lesotho's health institutions will take advantage of
cutting edge U.S. research in their bids to fight HIV in Africa.
G. PRESS PLACEMENT REPORTING
Embassy Maseru arranged an interview with Dr. Lau on Lesotho
Television (LTV),the nation's sole domestic television station.
The interview was broadcast on June 21, and directly addressed
MASERU 00000410 002.2 OF 002
the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Lesotho, American HIV/AIDS research,
and the work of the National Institutes of Health. We estimate
the viewership of LTV at approximately 30,000.
MURPHY