VZCZCXYZ0025
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPC #0331/01 1291419
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091419Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY LOME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7930
INFO RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2132
RUEHCO/AMEMBASSY COTONOU 3939
RUEHOU/AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 8870
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0556

UNCLAS LOME 000331 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
PARIS FOR GREG D'ELIA 
ACCRA FOR USAID WEST AFRICA J. CHEEMA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL SOCI TBIO EAID TO KHIV
SUBJECT: TOGO -- FIRST MEETING OF NATIONAL COUNCIL TO FIGHT 
HIV/AIDS 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Charge attended the first session of the CNLS/IST 
(National Committee for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS and 
Sexually-Transmitted Diseases) on March 30.  The session was 
presided over by President Faure Gnassingbe, who is the 
Chairman of the CNLS. The CNLS presented a strategy document 
for fighting HIV/AIDS in the 2007 to 2010 timeframe and 
listened to testimony from NGOs, members of government, and 
members of civil society on the effect of HIV/AIDS on the 
people of Togo. 
 
¶2.  (U) The strategy has six areas of concentration: 
 
First:  Boost prevention activities. 
Prevention programs will target sex workers, youth, both 
students and school-leavers, and women.  Programs include 
increased voluntary testing, extension of efforts to prevent 
mother-to-child transmission, improved diagnosis and 
treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, promotion of 
condom use and improved testing of transfusion blood supplies. 
 
Second:  Provide treatment and assistance for those affected 
by HIV/AIDS. 
Currently about 6,000 people are receiving ARV therapy 
subsidized by the Global Fund and the GoT.  NGOs are 
assistant 4,600 people living with HIV and the plan calls for 
increased assistance with counseling and nutrition.  The GoT 
projects that, with its NGO partners under the leadership of 
UNICEF Togo, care will be provided to 7,500 orphans and 
vulnerable children in 2008. 
 
Third:  Promote human rights in the battle against 
stigmatization. 
In December 2005 the GoT passed a law protecting HIV/AIDS 
sufferers.  With the aid of several UN agency partners, the 
law against stigmatization will be publicized through the 
country. 
 
Fourth:  Promote HIV/AIDS research. 
The GoT is seeking partners for a North-South or South-South 
cooperation on research. 
 
Fifth:  Improve the national system of follow up and 
evaluation to measure the impact of activities in the fight 
against HIV/AIDS and STDs. 
 
Sixth:  Improve management and coordination of activities in 
the fight against HIV/AIDS and STDs. 
 
¶3.   (U) Budget:  The summary of money budgeted for these six 
areas of concentration in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Togo 
in the 2007-2010 timeframe follows: 
 
First     Prevention          USD  39.9 million 
Second    Treatment and Care  USD  59.8 million 
Third     Human Rights        USD   2.0 million 
Fourth    Research            USD   2.9 million 
Fifth     Evaluation          USD   7.9 million 
Sixth     Coordination        USD  11.0 million 
          Total:              USD 123.5 million 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Comment:  What was remarkable about the rollout of 
the strategy was the fact that President Faure and nearly 
every member of the top echelon of the government was present 
for the whole meeting, which went from 08h00 to 16h00. In 
conversation with Charge, some UN colleagues were critical of 
the budgeting in the document, which called for expenditures 
of USD 120 million over four years. While the goal and 
suggested allocation of resources is commendable, as a 
practical matter, the reality is that Togo has no capacity to 
absorb this amount of funding. In 2006 the Global Fund cut 
off a grant one year early for poor management. On the other 
hand, one has to give credit to President Faure for spending 
a whole day with all his ministers and advisors listening to 
presentations on the need for prevention, treatment, and 
orphans' care in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It sends a clear 
message that the Got is committed to fight HIV/AIDS. When 
Faure named the new Government of National Union after the 
signing of the Global Political Accord with opposition 
parties in August 2006, his choice for Minister of Health was 
a seasoned minister with the personal rank of Minister of 
State (one of only three Ministers of State in a 30-member 
cabinet). This was a welcome change from his predecessor, who 
was well-meaning but ineffectual managing a government 
ministry. The prevalence rate of HIV/AIDs in Togo is thought 
to be around 4 per cent. Post hopes that high-level attention 
 
from the GoT will be instrumental in driving it lower. End 
Comment. 
 
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