|
World Bank approves 30mln USD to assist Ethiopia's fight against HIV/AIDS
|
|
Addis Ababa, March 09, 2007 (WIC) - The World Bank has reportedly approved yesterday 30 Million USD grant to support HIV/AIDS prevention activities in Ethiopia. According to a press release sent to WIC today, the Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the grant to be extended through the International Development Assistance (IDA). The release indicated that the fund will be devoted to support HIV/AIDS prevention activities in the country through the ongoing Ethiopian Multi-Sectoral HIV/AIDS Project (EMSAP I) and the second phase of the Project (EMSAP II).
EMSAP II aims to increase access to preventative services for most groups at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, and youth, particularly young women ages 15-24, it stated, adding that the project will also focus on risk groups in hotspots in rural and peri-urban areas such as market towns.
By targeting groups of people who tend to show higher HIV/prevalence rates, the project attempts to slow the spread of the virus, particularly with respect to urban-rural transmissions,’’ said Gebresellssie Okubazghi the World Bank Task Team Leader of the Project. The program will also address capacity-building needs--- not only gaps in skills but also shortcomings in institutions and systems. By using the public sector to target high risk and vulnerable groups, EMSAP II aims to help citizens better understand how to avoid contracting or transmitting the virus, and help foster behavior change. The grant will fund projects in peer education, condom distribution, and communications activities that target behavioral change and discourage traditional practices that increase risk. Specific attention will be paid to integration of HIV/AIDS in reproductive health programs, it was pointed out. The EMSAP II will also support local community and woreda-based initiatives. Several intervention and mitigation activities will be developed to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention methods at the community level, the press release said. |
|
|
|
|