Dominican Republic to receive $85 million to combat HIV/AIDS

Dominican Republic to receive $85 million to combat HIV/AIDS
Santo Domingo, 11/14/2010

LThe governments of the Dominican Republic and the United States signed a framework agreement for implementing an $85 million, five-year Strategic Plan for AIDS Relief in the island nation.

The $85 million in aid will help the Dominican Republic make progress toward the achievement of its Millennium Development Goals, Montás added.

The signing ceremony took place in the Las Cariátides Hall on the third floor of the National Palace in the presence of government officials from both countries. The Dominican team was led by Economy, Planning and Development Minister Juan Temístocles Montás, who was joined by Christopher Lambert, commercial attaché for the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, according to a news release from the Presidential Office of News, Information and Publicity.

Temístocles Montás expressed his appreciation for the gesture of cooperation from the United States with the Dominican Republic, saying that “as on other occasions, the assistance will contribute to the economic and democratic progress of our country.”

The $85 million in aid will help the Dominican Republic make progress toward the achievement of its Millennium Development Goals, Montás added.
For his part, Christopher Lambert said that the program will be guided by a series of principles that include recognition of the Dominican government’s responsibility for the National Program to combat HIV/AIDS

Lambert pointed out that the United States supports the Dominican government with technical and financial assistance to strengthen its administrative capacity and its human resources and laboratory, surveillance and strategic information systems.

Also present at the signing of the HIV/AIDS accord was the executive director of the state AIDS agency, COPRESIDA, Gustavo Rojas Lara, who pointed to the decision to incorporate those affected by the grave illness to the country’s Social Security system so that their permanent access to the necessary medication can be assured.

Vice Minister of Economy, Planning and Development América Bastidas presided over the signing ceremony where Minister Montás was joined by the ministers of Education, Melanio Paredes, Public Health, Bautista Rojas Gómez, Finance, Vicente Bengoa, and Mr. Rojas Lara from COPRESIDA as well as Ana María Navarro, representing the United Nations Joint Program on AIDS and Mr. Lambert.