U.S. Government and Addis Ababa University Commemorate One Year of Partnership in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

March 18, 2006
No. 07/06

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) -- U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Janet Wilgus on March 18, 2006 joined the Minister of Education Dr. Sintayehu Wolde Michael, President of Addis Ababa University (AAU), Professor Andrias Eshete, and Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-Ethiopia, Dr. Tadesse Wuhib, to officially commemorate a partnership between the CDC and AAU to combat HIV/AIDS in the university community.  Faculty deans, department heads, students, anti-HIV/AIDS club leaders, NGOs and other invited guests attended the ceremony held at AAU’s Graduate School Conference Hall.

A cooperative agreement signed in 2004 between CDC and AAU provided a total of US$ 380,000 (3.3 Million Birr) to scale up HIV/AIDS, TB and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Illnesses) prevention and treatment at Addis Ababa University. The program’s major achievements include the establishment of an HIV/AIDS Project support office (HAPSO); building the capacity of the university’s clinics, discussion forums for staff students and strengthening the ART (Anti-Retroviral Treatment) program.    

Speaking at the ceremony, DCM Janet Wilgus affirmed the US Government’s commitment under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to assist the university in its efforts to prevent and control HIV/AIDS within the university community and link the members of the community to care, support and treatment.  She said that PEPFAR is also “an integral part of other programs that are designed to reduce poverty, develop the economy, provide food security, ensure reproductive health and family planning services and contribute to the improvement of infrastructure throughout Ethiopia.” 
 
The AAU-CDC collaboration is part of a much larger program involving four universities in the United States working with regional universities in Ethiopia to provide prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS for university and surrounding communities.  Johns Hopkins University is working with AAU and Debub University in Awassa, Columbia University has partnered with Alemaya and Jimma Universities, the University of Washington works with Mekelle and Gondar Universities, and the University of California at San Diego is collaborating with the National Defense University and the Police Hospital. 

PEPFAR will provide 1 billion Birr over the next twelve months in support of efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia.  Through local and international organizations and partners in Ethiopia, PEPFAR is making possible antiretroviral treatment provision to thousands of people, as well as care and support services to hundreds of thousands of those affected by HIV/AIDS, including orphans.  It is also working with its partners to prevent new HIV infections through education and information campaigns.

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