The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief: June 2005 Newsletter

A Monthly Update on the U.S. Commitment To Turn the Tide Against Global HIV/AIDS

In This Issue: 

Office of the Coordinator
--Second Annual Field Meeting Held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

MALAWI
--Emergency Plan Helps Thousands Living With HIV/AIDS

GUYANA
--Back From the Brink: PEPFAR and Community Support Saves Family in Crisis

PEPFAR Holds Second Annual Field Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Last month, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief held our Second Annual Field Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Our purpose was to find out what is working and what is not, and then to put our lessons learned to use in our programs as we move forward.

This year we decided to bring together a broad representation of those who do the work on the ground – U.S. government personnel, Ministry of Health officials in the countries where we are working, our international partners such as UNAIDS, the WHO, and the Global Fund, and representatives of nongovernmental organizations, including community-based and faith-based organizations.

The program included presentations by the U.S. teams in each of the 15 focus countries on challenges they face and best practices they have developed. Prevention, care, and treatment activities were each the subject of a dedicated day of presentations by U.S. personnel and partners. At times it seemed like we were "drinking from a firehose" of information, and much of it is already being put to use in the field as we seek to improve our programs.

In general, I am greatly impressed by the work that is going on, and encouraged by our results to date. Based on our discussions, I am convinced that the key to our success is the work of the dedicated people in-country, including those of the host government and non-governmental sectors. The Emergency Plan is a vehicle for the American people to support their efforts, and the true credit rests with those working on the ground.

U.S. Government field staff work closely with partners and friends to implement each host nation's vision for fighting HIV/AIDS. The leadership and commitment to fighting AIDS in our host countries is strong and growing, and that is one of the most encouraging developments taking place today. It’s a trend that the Emergency Plan is proud to support, and we will continue to do so.        - Ambassador Randall L. Tobias

MALAWI
Emergency Plan Helps Thousands of Malawians Living with HIV/AIDS
Ruth Nkuya's small hands worry the hem of her dress as she softly retells her story. She discovered that she was HIV positive in 1996. Ruth sought treatment, and began ART in 2002 after she was referred to Lighthouse Trust, an institution supported by the U.S. Government and Malawi’s largest provider of anti-retroviral therapy. Ruth looks out at the flame trees in Lilongwe's City Centre, her face breaking into a smile: "Since I started ARVs my CD4 count has gone from 308 to 900. I am able to work now and take care of my daughter." -

Ruth is one among thousands of Malawians whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS programs funded by the President's Emergency Plan and administered by USAID, CDC and Peace Corps. With HIV/AIDS funding of 11.5 million dollars annually, USAID provides technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and supports HIV policy development. It also funds partner organizations to promote behavior change, provide home-based care, support HIV orphans, and reduce mother to child transmission in Malawi. CDC provides technical and financial assistance to the Ministry of Health, the National AIDS Commission and health care organizations and professionals. All Peace Corps volunteers are trained in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention and integrate that training into their work in villages across Malawi every day.

The American people are fighting HIV/AIDS in Malawi through these agencies and their committed professionals, and are seeing important successes. For Ruth, whose daughter is now 14, the statistics add up to a simple fact: "I am grateful to be alive to help others--and to see my daughter grow." 

GUYANA
Back From the Brink: PEPFAR and Community Support Saves Family in Crisis
In October 2004, a tragic newspaper article caught the attention of Lifeline Counselling Services, one of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’s nongovernmental partners. A visit to the family revealed the grim story of a family in crisis. An HIV+ mother had taken her own life and her HIV+ husband was now the sole provider for two young children, and by all appearances, an HIV+ baby.

With Lifeline’s intervention, Baby "E", severely malnourished and suffering from thrush and dermatitis, was admitted to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, an Emergency Plan treatment site supported by Catholic Relief Services. The social worker feared that only prayers could save her, but the paediatrician and nursing staff provided round-the-clock care and her health gradually improved.

Fortunately, Lifeline has begun implementing their Emergency Plan-funded OVC program and is providing care and support to the family. Lifeline immediately addressed their nutritional, physical, medical and educational needs. The father has benefited from counselling, attended the parenting workshop series facilitated by Lifeline, and received financial support from a revolving fund established by a patron of Lifeline. He now operates his own business as a joiner and sells sodas from his home. With support from Courts Guyana Inc., basic furniture was provided so that the family can live in some degree of comfort. The support Lifeline receives from the United States has allowed the organization to truly become a lifeline to over 100 orphans and vulnerable children. Today, PEPFAR also provides paediatric treatment in both the public and private sector for Baby "E" and other children in need.

Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator
Suite 200
2100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20522

Public Affairs Contact: 202-663-2708
Fax: 202-663-2979
mcbreartyml@state.gov