USAID Announces New Program to Strengthen Community HIV/AIDS Response

ADDIS ABEBA, ETHIOPIA – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently awarded a U.S. $35 million contract to PATH for a new program entitled USAID Strengthening Communities’ Responses to HIV/AIDS. This program will improve access to HIV/AIDS treatment and services, strengthen the quality of community- and home-based services, and raise awareness and demand for high-quality, comprehensive, and affordable services.  It aims to reach more than 900,000 Ethiopians in 300 towns.

In Ethiopia more than 2 percent of adults 15 to 49 years old are estimated to be infected by HIV/AIDS, and as many as 10 percent of people are living with HIV in urban areas. The USAID Strengthening Communities’ Responses to HIV/AIDS Program plans to build on regional and national efforts already underway by Ethiopia’s Federal HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office to bring services to people affected by the disease.

“This program, with support from the American people, will help Ethiopians affected by HIV/AIDS lead a better life by giving them the tools and services they need and deserve,” Nancy Estes, USAID Acting Mission Director, said.

The program will strengthen the capacity of local civil society organizations to deliver integrated community HIV/AIDS services, including basic and advanced palliative care, HIV counseling and testing, adherence monitoring and defaulter tracing, social support and asset building/economic strengthening. In addition, it will further develop and strengthen coordination and referrals between civil society organizations, local government and health facilities; and strengthen pre-service training and fellowship programs for social work and nursing students at local public and private training institutions.

Funding for this program is provided by the American people through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and will be implemented by PATH over five years.  PEPFAR is the largest commitment ever by any nation to combat a single disease.  Ethiopia is one of PEPFAR’s 15 focus countries, which collectively represent approximately 50 percent of HIV infections worldwide. Ethiopia received more than $350 million in 2008 and over 200 million is allocated for 2009.

PATH is a U.S. based international nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health.