VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSK #0720/01 1931349
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121349Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4675
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS

UNCLAS MINSK 000720 
 
SIPDIS 
 
INFO AMEMABASSY KIEV 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/GAC: JKOLKER, NALRTUZ 
USAID/WASHINGTON FOR E&E/EA K.MONAGHAN, GH/ 
M.MILLER 
HHS FOR WSTEIGER 
USAID/KIEV FOR OHST N.GODFREY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID KHIV SOCI TBIO BO
SUBJECT: POST REVIEW OF GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, 
TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA PHASE TWO GRANT RENEWAL 
 
REF: STATE 098733 
 
¶1. On June 27, 2006 USAID Country Representative, USAID 
Activity Manager and an Embassy Poloff met with UNDP 
HIV/AIDS Program Manager, the UNDP Resident Representative 
and the Belarus Global Fund Project Manager to discuss the 
results of Phase I of the project (which ends November 30, 
2006) and possibilities for Phase II.  The Phase II, three 
year, request for Belarus is $10.3 million. The current 
program is divided into several components with different 
risk groups and quarterly checks progress against 28 
indicators.  Currently 73 organizations are part of the 
network of partner NGOs.  In the past two quarters, the 
Belarus Global Fund has received a rating of 4 (5 being the 
best).  Implementers include a number of large NGOs but the 
largest are, Positive Movement, "Vstrecha" and UNESCO Clubs. 
See Para 2 below for summary of progress: 
 
2.Grant Performance Assessment: 
 
-- Prevention of HIV-infection among Injecting Drug Users 
(IDUs): 
55 anonymous counseling points (ACPs) have been set up to 
date with a total of 65 projected by the end of the grant. 
The main achievement is setting up a network of 73 partner 
organizations with the Minsk and Gomel regions having the 
most counseling points.  By year 5 of this activity, it is 
expected that 60% of all IDUs will be reached (note that 
this is not 60% of the registered users).  The current 
number of IDUs reached is 12,000 compared with 10,000 who 
are actually registered.  There are 150 outreach workers and 
155 specialists who have been trained in medical, 
psychological and social aspects of counseling for IDUs. 
The procurement of methadone, which was the stumbling block 
of the project, was given a green light by the government in 
late June and 51 patients are about to start receiving 
methadone therapy. 
 
-- Prevention of HIV infection and sexually transmitted 
diseases (STD) among men having sex with men (MSM): This 
component has made significant progress among the MSM 
community and is wholly run by NGOs.  Free-of-charge 
sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment 
is organized in 6 cities in Belarus.  A system for 
conducting field work among MSM in all oblast cities has 
been set up including Svetlogorsk (the town with the worst 
HIV/AIDS infection rate in the country).  This component has 
managed to win over some governmental officials who now 
acknowledge its significance. 
 
-- Creating an environment that facilitates effective HIV 
prevention activities in the penitentiary system of Belarus: 
This is one of the best run components due to the good 
working relationship with prison administration and 
centralized decision making and implementation.  Prevention 
activities are being implemented in 93 percent of all 
prisons in Belarus.  Approximately, 16, 200 prisoners are 
reached by prevention activities through distribution of 
thematic materials and condoms, and by providing training. 
At present, about 1200 prisoners have HIV/AIDS. 
 
-- Providing access to treatment, care and support for 
people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA):  This component has been 
the most difficult to implement due to the skeptical 
attitude of the government officials.  In spite of this, by 
the end of the project about 600 patients will have received 
antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.  Eight self-support groups 
have been established.  Average cost of ARV treatment per 
person is $1,000 per year. 
 
-- Setting up continuous information and educational work on 
HIV/AIDS prevention:  This component is progressing as 
planned. 10,946 copies of brochures, booklets and leaflets 
were distributed in Quarter 5 of the project.  Thematic 
posters are posted on 50 billboards in the larger cities of 
Belarus.  A manual for teachers and youth trainers on 
HIV/AIDS prevention work among youth was developed and is 
now under review prior to printing.  It is expected that, 
once approved, this manual will be distributed to 10,000 
schools.  The Ministries of Education, Sport and Culture 
participate in this component.  A Resource Center has been 
opened and the website www.aids.by was created. 
 
-- Monitoring and Evaluation:  provides for analysis of the 
 
cumulative progress of the project.  The monitoring plan for 
2006 was developed jointly with the HIV/AIDS Prevention 
Department of the Republican Center for Hygiene, and 
approved by the Ministry of Health.  A survey titled, 
"Setting up HIV/AIDS Prevention Work among College and 
University Students" is being conducted.  To date, 222 
educational institutions have been surveyed.  This survey 
will be concluded prior to the end of the grant.  In 
addition, a manual titled, "Monitoring and Evaluation in 
HIV/AIDS" has been approved and will be printed and 
distributed by October.  Finally, KMPG has given this 
financial management a rating of 4 out of 5 in both of the 
past two quarters. 
 
--Financial Status:  Post is aware that initial spending was 
slow, mostly due to the government of Belarus bureaucracy. 
However, given the overall success of the activities we are 
not concerned about the rate of spending or the rate of 
implementation. 
 
¶3.  Recommendation on U.S. Vote:  While the UNDP needs to 
staff up some, it is still doing an excellent job in 
coordination and management of the Global Fund project. 
Post recommends Phase II funding be approved. 
 
¶4. Comment: The positive results of this activity are due to 
the experienced UNDP team, which overcame a difficult 
initial environment, addressed issues despite heavy 
understaffing, resolved the logistical problems concerning 
the procurement of drugs, equipment and other supplies and, 
most important, managed to reverse the initially skeptical 
attitude of the local officials.  Based on the Grant 
Performance Report and the results of the meetings with the 
UNDP representatives the project has all chances to be 
implemented successfully and should receive further support. 
 
KROL