Press Releases
U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Visits Kinshasa
The Embassy of the United States of America in Kinshasa hosted a visit by Ambassador Mark R. Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator from 27-31 May.
Ambassador Dybul leads the implementation of President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has dedicated over $35 million dollars to HIV/AIDS relief in the D.R. Congo over the last five years.
In addition to meeting with key Congolese experts on HIV/AIDS in Kinshasa, Ambassador Dybul traveled to Lubumbashi to meet with experts in Katanga Province. He visited hospital sites and military camps where the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Defense (DoD) have programs. The U.S. government has developed a strong program that focuses on four high-prevalence and high-population urban settings: Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Bukavu, and Matadi.
The U.S. government strategy also leverages the $49 million USAID Investing in People program that includes health, education and social protection for vulnerable populations. Collaboration with The Global Fund and World Bank MAP programs, each of which invest over $100 million in HIV/AIDS programs, is a key component of the DRC strategy.
The focus by the international press on gender based violence and rape in Eastern Congo has heightened urgency to address these issues. The U.S. government is exploring ways to provide HIV services to include palliative care for victims of gender-based violence at clinics such as Bukavu’s Panzi Hospital and Goma’s DOCS hospital.
There are also efforts underway to address the prevention of sexual violence against women, including the use of mass media campaigns. This situation is the same in North Kivu Province of eastern Congo, where in addition to gender based violence, an estimated 800,000 displaced persons are at an increased risk to be infected by HIV.
Ambassador Dybul left Kinshasa for Kampala, where he will lead the Global Conference for PEPFAR participating countries, June 2 - 4, to be followed by the HIV/AIDS Implementers Conference, June 4 - 7. Key U.S. Embassy, Congolese officials, and program partners will attend this conference.