May 25, 2005
No. 21/05

United States Supports Ethiopia’s National HIV/AIDS Laboratory
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute Facility Will Enhance U.S.-Ethiopia Cooperation in Fighting AIDS

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) – The Governments of the United States and Ethiopia have jointly formally inaugurated a new U.S.-funded HIV/AIDS laboratory and office facility at the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI).  The U.S. provided $3.85 million (33.3 million Birr) to fund the renovation of the facility, which also included the purchase of laboratory equipment and furnishings.  Funding was provided under President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Joining U.S. Ambassador Aurelia E. Brazeal at the inauguration were Ambassador Randall Tobias, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, and Dr. Tim Mastro, Acting Director of the Global AIDS Program at CDC’s Atlanta, Georgia, headquarters, along with senior representatives from the Ministry of Health.  In addition, representatives from EHNRI, the U.S. Embassy, U.S. officials from Washington and Atlanta, and others attended the ceremony. 

The National HIV/AIDS Laboratory will serve as Ethiopia’s center of excellence in a range of key areas:  supporting HIV/AIDS diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment; establishing and supporting a national laboratory quality-assurance system; training of personnel on existing and new diagnostic and programmatic tools; and carrying out of operational research related to HIV and tuberculosis, as well as sexually transmitted and opportunistic infections.

The United States, through CDC-Ethiopia, has been providing financial and technical assistance to EHNRI for the last four years for capacity improvement at national, regional, and facility-based laboratories, and for supporting programmatic and surveillance activities in the areas of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis.  The EHNRI office will enhance this important collaboration, one that is having direct impact in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia.

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