HIV prevention and care are priorities for Cote d'Ivoire's Ministry of Defense (MoD), whose mostly young, often mobile members face a heightened risk of infection. Building on the MoD's existing program for prevention and care of STIs, including HIV/AIDS, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) provides technical assistance for the revision and implementation of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS management policy. This activity has strengthened the partnership between the MoD and the USG and is helping to mobilize the Ivoirian armed forces (MoD, police, customs, Water and Forests) and the Forces Armées/Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) for HIV prevention and care activities, policy development, and aggressive management of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The DoD is using FY 2008 and FY 2009 funding to strengthen HIV prevention capacities within the MoD, including conducting a workshop to standardize behavior change communication messages and tools for uniformed personnel, in conjunction with PEPFAR HIV prevention partners (PSI, EngenderHealth, JHU/CCP, etc.); training or retraining peer educators; supporting five associations of military wives to conduct HIV prevention outreach; and training or retraining physicians on prevention with positives.

With FY 2010 funding, the DoD will provide assistance to increase the capacity of the Armed Forces to collect data and transmit it to the national database for analysis. Ten data managers within the uniformed forces will be trained on the national standards for data collection and dissemination. The purpose of this activity is to strengthen system capacity to collect and report accurate data on activities executed by uniformed personnel.

FY 2010 funding will also support the renovation and equipping of the laboratory at the Military Hospital of Abidjan so that it conforms to national guidelines and equipment standards and can serve as an STI/HIV reference center. FY 2009 funds will support the training of three military laboratory technicians to perform routine STI diagnosis according to national standards. The objective of the program is to develop human capacity and strengthen the ability of the armed forces to diagnose and treat STIs among its members, families, and local communities.

Proposed activities will contribute to building the Ivoirian health system beyond HIV/AIDS. The promotion of proper data collection and reporting will help build a foundation for effective monitoring and evaluation of health programs. Laboratory infrastructure and equipment will support the full range of health care services.

HIV prevention and care are priorities for Cote d'Ivoire's Ministry of Defense (MoD), whose mostly young, often mobile members face a heightened risk of infection. Building on the MoD's existing program for prevention and care of STIs, including HIV/AIDS, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) provides technical assistance for the revision and implementation of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS management policy. This activity has strengthened the partnership between the MoD and the USG and is helping to mobilize the Ivoirian armed forces (MoD, police, customs, Water and Forests) and the Forces Armées/Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) for HIV prevention and care activities, policy development, and aggressive management of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The DoD is using FY 2008 and FY 2009 funding to strengthen HIV prevention capacities within the MoD, including conducting a workshop to standardize behavior change communication messages and tools for uniformed personnel, in conjunction with PEPFAR HIV prevention partners (PSI, EngenderHealth, JHU/CCP, etc.); training or retraining peer educators; supporting five associations of military wives to conduct HIV prevention outreach; and training or retraining physicians on prevention with positives.

With FY 2010 funding, the DoD will provide assistance to increase the capacity of the Armed Forces to collect data and transmit it to the national database for analysis. Ten data managers within the uniformed forces will be trained on the national standards for data collection and dissemination. The purpose of this activity is to strengthen system capacity to collect and report accurate data on activities executed by uniformed personnel.

FY 2010 funding will also support the renovation and equipping of the laboratory at the Military Hospital of Abidjan so that it conforms to national guidelines and equipment standards and can serve as an STI/HIV reference center. FY 2009 funds will support the training of three military laboratory technicians to perform routine STI diagnosis according to national standards. The objective of the program is to develop human capacity and strengthen the ability of the armed forces to diagnose and treat STIs among its members, families, and local communities.

Proposed activities will contribute to building the Ivoirian health system beyond HIV/AIDS. The promotion of proper data collection and reporting will help build a foundation for effective monitoring and evaluation of health programs. Laboratory infrastructure and equipment will support the full range of health care services.