Guyana gets US$34M for AIDS prevention, care and treatment programmes
Guyana Chronicle
July 12, 2004
THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in its support for the Government of Guyana's (GOG) expansion of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programmes, has awarded US$34M as part of the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
According to a Friday, July 9 2004 release, Family Health International (FHI) will lead a team of partners to lend support over the next five years. The team will help USAID/Guyana achieve the PEPFAR goals of treating 2000 HIV-positive persons, preventing 15,000 new infections, and providing care and support services for up to 9,000 persons, with a particular emphasis on orphans and vulnerable children.
Dr. Mike Sarhan, the Mission Director of USAID/Guyana, noted that with these additional resources the US Government emphasises the importance it places on the fight against HIV/AIDS and will allow the Government of Guyana to turn the tide against this devastating epidemic.
"We are confident that the team selected has the expertise and experience - globally and in Guyana - to achieve the plan's ambitious goals," the Mission Director said.
Dr. Peter Lamptey, President of FHI's Institute for HIV/AIDS remarked, "FHI supported by USAID has worked closely with the Government of Guyana since 2000 to implement HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes. We are delighted to receive additional support from the US Government to work with a stellar team of partners and rapidly expand these efforts."