HHS Secretary Thompson Announces Partnership With Ethiopia To Fight AIDS
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Tuesday announced a new partnership with the Ethiopian government to coordinate efforts to prevent and control HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases in the country, according to an HHS release. HHS Deputy Secretary Claude Allen and Ethiopia's Minister of Health Dr. Kebede Tadesse on Monday signed the agreement, which "formalizes cooperation" between the CDC and the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. The agreement aims to improve the care and support of HIV/AIDS patients, prevent HIV infection and strengthen the capacity to address the national HIV/AIDS epidemic through financial and technical assistance in partnerships with communities, government and national and international organizations (HHS release, 12/10). President Bush last week met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi to discuss the "devastating effects" of the African HIV/AIDS epidemic on societies, economies and security. Kenya and Ethiopia praised the United States for its efforts in the global fight against AIDS and for being the largest, single contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (White House release, 12/11). The Bush administration has proposed spending more than $16 billion in fiscal year 2003 to combat HIV/AIDS domestically and internationally (HHS release, 12/10).
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