The U.S. Government’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Agency for International Development (USAID) are leading a PNG delegation to Bangkok for the Country Operational Plan (COP) Review meeting.
CDC and USAID will present the COP for funding under the U.S. Government’s 2018-2019 President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Partners from PNG accompanying the team include representatives from the National Department of Health, WHO, UNAIDS and Oil Search Foundation.
“We’re looking forward to this meeting where we will get to work with our local partners and other U.S. specialists,” said Stephen Terrell-Perica, head of the U.S. Embassy’s CDC office.
“This will give us an opportunity to draw from their expertise and experience and ensure that our programs and activities are geared specifically to their budget and the impact HIV is having in PNG.”
PNG’s COP, which has a budget of USD $6.6 million, focuses on three main areas, including support for the National Department of Health’s efforts to roll-out HIV testing, developing site-level strategies to address gender based violence and key populations, and support for improved data collection and use at national and provincial levels.
At the three-day regional meeting, beginning February 28, representatives will review and approve the COP action plans that contain specific HIV program activities and deliverables for each country.
Other countries attending this meeting include China, Laos, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, India and Indonesia.
(Stephen Terrell-Perica, Head of the CDC Office at the US Embassy)