US spends $1bn on HIV, AIDS in Cote D’Ivoire

The United States embassy in Cote
D’Ivoire says the US government has
spent about $1bn fighting HIV and AIDS
in the country in the past 10 years.
This is contained in a statement issued by
Amani Urbain, Media Assistant in the
embassy, which was made available to the
News Agency of Nigeria.
According to the statement, the amount
was spent under the US President’s
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which
began operation in Cote D’Ivoire in 2003.
NAN reports that PEPFAR is the US
government’s initiative aimed at
improving the lives of people living with
HIV and AIDS and stemming the spread of
the disease.
The statement said, “PEPFAR in Cote
d’Ivoire is 10 years; the programme has
recorded tremendous success since it was
inaugurated in 2003.
“The US government under the PEPFAR
initiative has mobilised about one billion
dollars to help in the fight against HIV
and AIDS in the country.”
The statement added that no fewer than
one million persons carried out HIV and
AIDS testing annually, using PEPFAR’s test
centres located in different parts of the
country.
“The initiative has more than 800 test
centres located across the country; in
2004, a little less than 4,000 people living
with HIV received free Anti-Retroviral
Therapy.
“Currently, more than 87,000 people living
with HIV receive free treatment and
counselling in more than 388 centres,’’ it
said.
It said though commendable progress
had been recorded, there was still need
for massive education to prevent high-
risk behaviours.
“Government needs to redouble efforts to
curb inter-generational sex practices and
the prevention of other sexually
transmitted infections,’’ the statement
said.
NAN reports that PEPFAR is prided as
contributing about 75 per cent of the
overall international funding for HIV and
AIDS in Cote D’Ivoire.