US Government Launches HIV/AIDS Resource Fair
Keeping the Promise to Defeat AIDS in Ethiopia

November 30, 2005
No. 51/05

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) – The U.S. Embassy launched a National HIV/AIDS Resource Fair on November 30 at the Sheraton Hotel as part of this year’s World AIDS Day celebration. The event was held in the presence of H.E. Ato Girma W. Giorgis, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Minister of Health, Ato Nigatu Mereke, Head of the National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control office, H.E. Mr. Brian Moran, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, American Embassy, Mr. William Hammink, Director of US Agency for International Development, Dr. Tadesse Wuhib, Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, representatives of organizations working on HIV/AIDS, and other invited guests .

The Fair exhibited more than 150 materials on HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment produced by various organizations over the past few years under the support of President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Defense (DoD) and their respective partners have been supporting the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO), and their regional equivalents in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. As part of this support to fight against the pandemic, various materials including  publications, reports, job aids, manuals, documentaries, Music CDs, campaign materials, kits, etc. were produced in print, audio-visual, electronic, and web formats.

The USG-Ethiopia partners, in collaboration with HAPCO and the FMOH, sponsored the Resource Fair to provide all organizations working on HIV/AIDS a chance to view, learn, and collect samples of these materials for use in their respective areas of work.  The event also signifies the continuing commitment of the United States Government in keeping the promise to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS - the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day.