U.S. Charge d'Affaires Janet Wilgus Joins Ceremony To Observe ‘New Year, New Life” National HIV Counseling and Testing Day  (09/10)

September 10, 2006
No. 29/06

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) September 10, 2006 -- On Sunday, September 10, 2006, the Second National Voluntary Counseling and Testing Day was observed at the Piazza in Addis Ababa. The focus of this significant event in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia is counseling and testing of couples under the theme ‘New Year, New Life.'

The ceremony included the unveiling of a billboard of a couple living with AIDS and an Annual Testing Day walk to Meskel Square.  Janet Wilgus, Charge d’ Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Ato Berhanu Deressa, Mayor of Addis Ababa, Ato Negatu Mereke, Director of the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO), spoke at the event.

Charge d' Affaires Janet Wilgus noted  that counseling and testing are "highly cost-effective in reducing HIV transmission, particularly when offered to couples." She added that it is "proper to designate such a day to focus on encouraging the public to be tested and take a critical step in individual control and responsibility for one's health and the health of one’s partners and families."  The Charge reiterated the U.S. Government's commitment to assist Ethiopia to improve the health of its citizens and stem the tide of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Ethiopia benefits from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, which has contributed about 2 Billion Ethiopian Birr for Ethiopia’s HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment efforts. The U.S. Government supports over 550 counseling and testing centers and 93 anti-retroviral treatment (ART) centers in every region across the country. Around 45,000 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have benefited from free ART.

####