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New EAC-USAID Health Project

New-EAC-USAID-Health-Project

For years, USAID has worked in East Africa to improve the lives of people in poverty. The East Africa Regional program “works across borders to strengthen food security, improve economic growth, prevent conflict, and improve health systems, with a particular focus on fighting HIV/AIDS.” On May 28, USAID partnered with the East African Community (EAC) to improve health services and most importantly, achieve an AIDS free generation.

EAC and USAID’s new five year project “on Cross-Border Health Integrated Partnership (CB-HIPP) [is] designed to extend integrated health services in strategic border areas and other transport corridor sites,” according to All Africa. Because USAID has invested over $1 billion in the East African region, implementing this program is sure to bring focus to issues that are affecting the community.

This project also has the support of the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR is a U.S. initiative that aims to create a generation free of AIDS by following their five agendas. Their goals are to control the epidemic, efficiently save lives, maintain sustainability, build partnerships and promote human rights. “This historic commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally, and PEPFAR investments also help alleviate suffering from other diseases across the global health spectrum,” says PEPFAR.

The CB-HIPP is focusing on helping sex workers, drug users, migrant workers and others living with HIV/AIDS. They have recognized the risk of easy contagion and are finding ways to contain it. Working closely with the governments of East Africa will help distribute medication and implement the program.

Because “Eastern Africa is the second most affected region by HIV/AIDS in the world after Southern Africa,” according to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), PEPFAR and EAC-USAID’s health program will save millions of people. These programs give hope to those struggling around the world and will one day make it possible to see a world free of HIV/AIDS.

– Kimberly Quitzon

Sources: USAID, All Africa PEPFAR United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Photo: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation

http://www.usaid.gov/east-africa-regional

http://allafrica.com/stories/201505290592.html

http://www.pepfar.gov/about/index.htm

http://www.unodc.org/easternafrica/en/hiv-and-aids/index.html

How USAID Helps the World’s Poor

USAIDOver the years, The United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, has supplied 46 million people with food and protected 1.5 million children from preventable diseases. They hold 87 missions around the world, and are partnered with 3,500 companies and organizations. However, they only use one percent of the federal budget. Regardless of the minimal support from the government, USAID continues to create better living conditions for the world’s poor. Four recent developments are taking place in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Manila and Mozambique.

USAID has funded $62 million on Tetra Tech, a company focused on engineering and program management. Tetra Tech will focus on helping to develop the government system in Afghanistan. According to Business Wire, the company will “strengthen the linkages between the central government and provincial levels for strategic planning, budgeting and service delivery.” With this investment, the state will better develop communication to help citizens.

In Nigeria, USAID is helping farmers increase cocoa production to compensate for the fall in oil prices. Cocoa is a key export for Nigeria, and with the education to grow more effectively, it will support and diversify the economy. AllAfrica has recognized Mathew Burton, Director of Economic Growth and Environment for USAID, who believes “there are obviously opportunities for Nigeria to explore in the development of her cocoa sector.” With the search for investors to further help boost production, this can be a tremendous help for Nigeria’s economy and development.

After the multiple natural disasters the Philippines has endured, USAID has announced a partnership with the “Education Governance Effectiveness Project, which will help elementary public schools in the target provinces get back on track towards improving learning outcomes.” The mission is focused on helping students in grade school to help implement a solid learning foundation for their future education. Since education correlates to the rate of poverty, this will be a stepping stone for the country’s further development.

Feed the Future is the U.S. government’s initiative to end world hunger. USAID is assisting in helping farmers in Mozambique use “more productive agriculture technologies, improving nutrition and health, and connecting farmers to markets.” This initiative not only helps decrease starvation, but also increase the economy by selling goods in markets. USAID has educated farmers on proper agricultural techniques and partnered with the Government of Mozambique.

The progress USAID has made gives more reason to why they deserve better funding from the government. With consistent efforts to make better living conditions for the world’s poor, they are a beacon of hope to ending world poverty. The more USAID works to create plans across the globe, the less we will see famine and disease in poor countries.

– Kimberly Quitzon

Sources: USAID 1, USAID 2, Business Wire, All Africa, Feed The Future
Photo: Flickr