Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MASERU43
2007-01-26 10:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:  

PEPFAR LESOTHO PROGRAM PRESENTED TO GOVERNMENT OF LESOTHO

Tags:  KHIV EAID PREL AMGT AFIN LT 
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VZCZCXRO9366
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0043 0261053
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261053Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2578
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 2924
UNCLAS MASERU 000043 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USAID FOR S/GAC; DEPT FOR AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KHIV EAID PREL AMGT AFIN LT
SUBJECT: PEPFAR LESOTHO PROGRAM PRESENTED TO GOVERNMENT OF LESOTHO
(GOL)


-------
Summary
-------

UNCLAS MASERU 000043

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USAID FOR S/GAC; DEPT FOR AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KHIV EAID PREL AMGT AFIN LT
SUBJECT: PEPFAR LESOTHO PROGRAM PRESENTED TO GOVERNMENT OF LESOTHO
(GOL)


--------------
Summary
--------------


1. Seven USG representatives made a formal presentation of
Lesotho's HIV/AIDS FY07 mini-Country Operational Plan (COP) to
high-level officials in the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare
(MOHSW) on January 18, 2007. The Ministry's Principal Secretary
(PS) chaired the meeting, which was extremely well attended by
GOL officials. The meeting was both cordial and frank and
allowed the MOHSW to ask questions and voice their opinions on
the USG program to date. As non-focus country under the
President's Program for Emergency AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and as a
country without bilateral USAID or CDC offices yet on the
ground, Lesotho's FY07 HIV/AIDS budget is approximately $8.5
million. The program is in the process of increasing the number
of in-country staff (now comprised of a USG HIV/AIDS
Coordinator, CDC technical manager and two CDC technical
assistants and a program assistant) while the role of regional
offices will gradually decrease. The PS was very pleased with
the meeting and declared the New Year is off to an auspicious
start. End Summary


2. Representatives from the State Department (Embassy's Special
Projects Program Coordinator),Peace Corps, CDC, and USAID as
well as the Lesotho PEPFAR Coordinator made a formal
presentation of Lesotho's PEPFAR-funded mini-Country Operational
Plan on January 18, 2007. Prior to the formal presentation, USG
representatives had held numerous consultative meetings with
their GOL counterparts in preparing the document. The mini-COP
is a requirement of the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator.
However prior approval of the host government is critical to a
smooth program.


3. The meeting was well attended by all departments and program
heads within the MOHSW. The GOL raised a number of questions
and issues, including a request for a report on USG expenditures
to date, the importance of continuing to scale-up the program to
prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and the necessity
of TB and HIV/AIDS program linkages both from the government and
donor side.


4. As a 'non-presence, non-focus country' Lesotho's funding has
gradually increased from approximately USD 2 million in FY2004
to an anticipated USD 8.5 million in FY2007. The resultant
scale-up of technical programs has highlighted the need for
in-country staff. In FY2005, the program was run by the USAID
and CDC regional offices; with FY2007 funds, an anticipated
seven staff will be in-country and the role of the regional
programs will dramatically decrease.


5. The meeting was the first such formal meeting to present a
Country Operational Plan to the GOL and was very well received.
The PS expressed his strong appreciation for the meeting and
requested meetings of this nature occur more frequently.

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Comment
--------------


6. Lesotho's journey from minimal USG support in 2004, despite
its estimated 30 percent HIV/AIDS infection rate, to a near USD
9 million program has been a demanding one. With the production
of the mini-cop and the continued upgrade/increase of staffing,
the U.S. is poised to more effective execution of our foreign
policy goals and of the President's PEPFAR initiative. Our
collaboration and strengthening of the Health Ministry's
capacity continues. There remains significant work in the areas
of human resources development and outreach to remote villages,
some at 17,000 feet in Lesotho's mountainous areas --
representing the majority of the population. The fruitful
dialogue we have achieved with the PS has been some time in the
making. At this point, we must move forth expeditiously to
further implementation. End Comment.

PERRY