CLINTON FOUNDATION HIV/AIDS ACTIVITIES IN CAMEROON

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000867

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

ACCRA FOR USAID/WA
SECDEF FOR WRAIR
NAIROBI FOR WRAIR
CAIRO FOR NAMRU-3
EUCOM FOR J5-A

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KHIV EAID SOCI TBIO CM
SUBJECT: CLINTON FOUNDATION HIV/AIDS ACTIVITIES IN CAMEROON

REF: STATE 84277


1. (U) Summary. The Clinton Foundation has begun programs
focusing on the provision of pediatric and second line
antiretroviral (ARV) drugs through an agreement signed with
the Government of Cameroon (GRC) in January 2007 and intends
to launch a Gates Foundation-funded malaria component in the
coming months. In a July 6 meeting, Clinton Foundation
representatives told emboffs they are providing only in-kind
and technical support to reduce exposure to graft. End
summary.


2. (U) DCM and Pol/Econ officer met with Clinton Foundation
Regional Manager Jonathan Vessey (based in Cotonou) and
Elizabeth Radin (relocating soon to West/Central Africa) on
July 6 to discuss the foundation's recent activities in
support of HIV/AIDS relief efforts. The Clinton Foundation
receives much of its funding from UNITAID (see Ref A),a
financing mechanism for health and other support efforts
initiated by France. The Clinton Foundation's primary focus
in Cameroon is the distribution of pediatric ARV drugs, which
it is performing pursuant to an MOU signed with the GRC in
January 2007. It is also working with the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Cameroon, evaluating
the GRC's capacity, testing networks of AIDS-related
services, and training for laboratory technicians. The
Foundation also provides diagnostics and follow-up testing,
and is working on an awareness campaign to inform the public
about the availability of medication and testing. The
Clinton Foundation is also planning to begin work on a
malaria initiative within the next few months, a project that
is being funded in part by the Gates Foundation. According
to Vessey, the Clinton Foundation does not have a Cameroon
office, but is considering hiring additional support staff to
support its Cameroon activities.


3. (U) Another Foundation initiative is to provide "second
line drugs" (stronger medications) to patients for whom the
first line is no longer effective. These medications can
cost 10 to 50 times as much as the first line drugs, and very
few patients receive them in Cameroon. One effort of the
Foundation is to leverage commodity prices through bulk
purchasing agreements, reducing them to a level at which the
GRC and other African governments can afford to sustain the
distribution programs on their own.


4. (U) The primary GRC point of contact for the Foundation
is the Ministry of Public Health (MINSANTE),with whom they
report having a good working relationship. They also work
with the Chantal Biya Foundation to develop testing methods
that can be effective for children under 18 months. The
Clinton Foundation is providing chemicals and other supplies
for the study as a stop-gap measure until the GRC can develop
its own facilities.


5. (SBU) The Clinton Foundation representatives said they
provide materials in kind rather than cash support to the GRC
and strive to ensure transparency in the distribution of
medications in an effort to discourage corruption and
diversion of funds and resources. However, their ability to
ensure the integrity of the program is limited.
NELSON