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UNDP and ROA Govmt Joint Effort to Fight AIDS in Uniformed Services

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  • UNDP and ROA Govmt Joint Effort to Fight AIDS in Uniformed Services

    United Nations Development Programme Country Office in Armenia
    14, Karl Liebknecht Street, Yerevan 375010, Armenia
    Contact: Aramazd Ghalamkaryan
    Tel: (374 1) 56 60 73
    Fax: (374 1) 54 38 11
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.undp.am

    UNDP COUNTRY OFFICE IN ARMENIA
    Yerevan, Armenia
    11 March, 2004

    UNDP AND THE GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA JOIN EFFORTS TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS IN
    THE UNIFORMED SERVICES

    Today, the Government of Armenia and the United Nations Development
    Programme (UNDP) launched the HIV/AIDS and Uniformed Services
    project. Mr. Norair Davidyan, Minister of Health of the Republic of
    Armenia and Ms. Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident
    Representative, presented the initiative to the mass media and
    colleagues, and then signed the Agreement.

    The overall objective of the project is to support the implementation
    of the National Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention in the Republic of
    Armenia by: a) providing technical support to the National
    Inter-Ministerial Council on HIV/AIDS Prevention; b) strengthening the
    capacity of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice and the
    Police in prevention activities; c) developing national strategies to
    address HIV/AIDS in penitentiaries, police units and the military; d)
    raising awareness on HIV/AIDS and related issues, particularly among
    recruits and demobilised soldiers.

    According to Ms. Grande: `UNDP has been assisting the national
    authorities to advocate and fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in
    the country since 1998. This project is supported by the UNAIDS
    Programme, a very unique UN body, which was established to combat
    HIV/AIDS globally. Capacity building of the key ministries, as well as
    raising the public awareness of HIV/AIDS are the most important
    components of this project, and we are confident that under the
    leadership of the Ministry of Health, we will make this initiative a
    success.'

    Mr. Davidyan noted: `Although Armenia is not considered to be such a
    high risk country in terms of HIV/AIDS as some other countries in our
    region, we clearly perceive that if proper and timely preventive
    measures are not undertaken, our Republic will soon face a dangerously
    high rate of HIV/AIDS. In this respect, this unique project, which
    will target very specific groups of population, has special importance
    for the present and the future of Armenia.'

    Country Background: As of February 1, 2004, 254 HIV carriers were
    registered in Armenia including 198 cases among men, 51 cases among
    women and three cases of HIV infection among children. The majority of
    HIV carriers, 80 percent, are between 20-39 years old and approximately
    half of all registered cases are reported in Yerevan. The most
    prevalent two modes of HIV transmission are intravenous drug use and
    heterosexual practices. An estimated 2,500-2,600 people are possibly
    living with HIV/AIDS in the country. In April 2002, the Government
    adopted a National Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention.

    ***
    UNDP is the UN's global development network. It advocates for change
    and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help
    people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries,
    working with them on their own solutions to global and national
    development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on
    the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

    ***
    For further information, please contact Mr. Aramazd Ghalamkaryan, UNDP
    Armenia, at [email protected].
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