Statements and Webcast
Djibouti
H.E. Mr. Dileita Mohamed Dileita, Prime Minister
8 June 2011
- Statement: French (Check against delivery)
Statement Summary
DILEITA MOHAMED DILEITA, Prime Minister of Djibouti, said his Government was committed to combating the disease in order to achieve sustainable development. But, constant efforts were needed to improve the lives of, and the stigma faced by, people living with HIV, as well as to end ignorance about the disease and cultural barriers that denied its victims their human rights. He underscored the role of Djibouti’s First Lady in that regard, as well as that of certain religious authorities. To effectively counter the disease over the long-term, financing was required. He noted the difficulty in preventing the disease among migrants transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. In acknowledging the existence of HIV/AIDS in 2003, his Government had made an important political commitment that allowed it to create the necessary institutional and regulatory framework to tackle the disease. Today, there existed a new committee under the Prime Minster’s leadership to coordinate a national response to AIDS, as well as a new secretariat to guarantee a national response to AIDS, as well as to malaria and tuberculosis.
In the past 10 years, Djibouti had joined all international initiatives against HIV, he said. It was a leader in the Horn of Africa thanks to the leadership of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development initiative. A harmonization of policies against the disease would bolster prevention, access to treatment and care of migrants that were at high risk for contracting HIV. In September, an international conference in Djibouti on ports, mobility, migration and vulnerability to HIV brought together 15 African Foreign Ministers. During that event, Djibouti’s President strongly advocated a strategy for the region’s countries to share health care costs for combating the epidemic. Djibouti’s high-level commitment to combat HIV/AIDS was part of its poverty reduction strategy. The nation’s 2008-2012 plan aimed to reduce HIV infections, improve integral care for HIV-positive people and follow up with a national response. A 2007 law was adopted to protect people living with HIV. Despite limited financial resources, much had been achieved in that regard. Today, 95 per cent of the population was aware of the disease and 97 per cent of pregnant women had agreed to HIV testing.
Source: GA/11086