ANNUAL HEALTH BULLETIN 2004 - Ministry of Health

• Function as coordinating body in the national response to HIV/AIDS prevention
and control activities.
• Mobilize Active commitment and collaboration of publicly/private sectors, civil
societies and communities.
• NAC is now upgraded to NHAC with the RGOB approval during the 220 th
session of Coordination Committee Meeting of the council of ministers on
February 2, 2004.
Ministry of Health is in the process of formulating a comprehensive policy to address
the complex issue ofHN/AIDS. With the guidance ofNHAC and consultancy experts
on HIV/AIDS, the Ministry is looking for a comprehensive policy with in a year. The
existing policy framework and policy statements are as follows:
• Maintain confidentiality ofHN positive peoples.
• Practice Universal Precaution in all health care settings.
• Screen all blood and blood products.
• Provide ART to HN positive pregnant mothers.
• Implement program activities through Multi Sectoral Approach.
• Provide 100 % access to condoms.
• Avoid breast-feeding child ofHN positive mothers.
• Spouse/partners notification by infected is being encouraged, family which
health authority will disclose on hislher behalf.
• Address gender equality and human rights in all areas of care and support to
people living with HIV/AIDS.
• One needle one person
• Stronger call for a multi Sectoral taskforce
• Emphasize creating an enabling environment- policy, legal, social and culturalthat
will facilitate behavior change.
• Strengthen the preventive, promotive, services.
• Strengthen the treatment and care services- including counseling services,
screening in laboratory and blood bank services.
• Strengthen institutional capacity- more Voluntary Counseling and Testing
Centers (VCTC), human resources trained on treatment and management of
AIDS
• Continuing effective detection and management of Sexually Transmitted.
Infections (ST!) at primary health facilities.
• Making an enabling environment for HIV/AIDS patients- good policies, which
incorporates evidence based, and right based policies.
Trends in HN infection will be monitored through surveillance such as reporting of
STls, analysis of sentinel data and monitoring of RPR prevalence among antenatal
clinic attendees. Further, the program will monitor through: