Ethiopian Review

Adama – The Federal HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO) said that encouraging results were registered in the prevention and control of the HIV pandemic in the country over the last nine months.

Opening a national joint forum on performance report and action plan of the office in Adama town yesterday General Director of the office Dr. Betru Tekle said that encouraging results were registered in HIV/AIDS prevention and control works over the stated period.

Establishment of a consultative and public mobilization teams to expedite the prevention activity as well as integration of the prevention of mother-to-child prevention with the prevention and control activities were among the activities carried out during the period reported.

Moreover, the office has accomplished 84 per cent of its plans in the public mobilization and community dialogue activities, Dr. Betru said, adding that encouraging results were also scored in the voluntary testing and counseling of HIV/AIDS pandemic.

To this end, 133 health institutions were launched over the last nine months which makes the total number of institutions that provide HIV/AIDS prevention and control service to 1,518 in the country, he added.

In addition, the number of centers providing anti-retroviral medicine in the country also reached to 483 from only three in 1997 E.C., Dr. Betru said.

He also indicated that activities of restructuring of the office is also well underway, adding, that the restructuring and assignment of man power is also expected be finalized at the end of this fiscal year.

The national joint forum on performance report and action plan of the office is attended by participants drawn from health bureaus of all states, HIV/ AIDS Prevention and Control Offices, donor groups and other concerned bodies.

- WIC