Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has launched the new National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Strategic Plan, which puts the fight against the virus at the forefront of the Government’s health agenda.

Speaking at the second annual field meeting of US President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief conference at the Sheraton Addis on 24^th May, the Prime Minister said the new plan would help enhance the capacity and effectiveness of arresting and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS.

“It is in the light of the complex nature of the challenge that analysis and revision of policy options to deal with HIV/AIDS has been carried out,” Prime Minister Meles said, adding “the Strategic Plan being launched is the result of extensive consultations with stakeholders.”

Meles outlined the principles of the Strategic Plan, saying it was designed in recognition of the fact that a change in behavioural patterns was key to halting the spread of the virus and that such a change would be best achieved by the community. The plan aims to empower the community by encouraging greater involvement in HIV prevention programmes - with a particular focus on youth and women’s associations - as part of a recently established Health Extension Package, which has already begun work in rural areas across the country.

The government is to dramatically increase the number of clinics and hospitals in Ethiopia, with plans to ensure that there is one health centre for every 25,000 people in all rural areas within three years. The health centres would provide counselling, diagnosis and treatment and encourage behavioural change. Antiretroviral drugs are being given to patients at 20 hospitals around the country. Distribution would also take place at 30 health centres in the country. That number is expected to rise to over 100 by 2008.

ENDS