NEWLY LAUNCHED EAC-USAID HEALTH PROJECT TO IMPROVE HEALTH SERVICES ALONG CROSS BORDER SITES

EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera makes his remark

Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera addresses the participants during the launch as USAID/Kenya and East Africa Mission Director Karen Freeman(in red) and EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sector  Hon Jesca Eriyo looks on.

Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera and Karen Freeman after the launch of the Cross-Border Health Integrated Partnership Project. 

In its efforts  to achieve an AIDS-free generation, the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in collaboration with  the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a five-year project on Cross-Border Health Integrated Partnership (CB-HIPP) designed to extend integrated health services in strategic border areas and other transport corridor sites. The ceremonial launch took place yesterday at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. 

   

​CB-HIPP, which is also been supported by the  U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and Trade Africa, will complement the more-than-$1 billion U.S Government investment in the region and efforts led by the EAC to safeguard the health of people living, working and traveling along the transport corridors and cross-border sites. 

"As populations in cross-border towns increasingly move across the region, they become vulnerable to infections diseases, which, without  proper treatment, can easily be spread along the transport corridors," said Karen Freeman, USAID/Kenya and East Africa Mission Director.

"CB-HIPP will encourage civil society, governments and Regional Economic Communities to expand health services to restrict the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases, as well as bring together social structures and grass root organizations to implement HIV-prevention activities," she said.​

Targeting key populations, including female sex workers, men having sex with men, drug users, truck drivers, migrant workers, people living with HIV and other vulnerable community members, CB-HIPP will provide outreach and stamina to the burgeoning population and accelerated mobility of East African citizens. It will also serve as a platform for the U.S. Government to strengthen its joint and strategic partnership with the EAC.

"Our partnership with the U.S. Government will continue to be expanded and strengthened through mutual development and U.S. donor funding for our programs," said Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera, EAC Secretary General. "CB-HIPP also provides and opportunity for the EAC to conduct strategic discussions on joint priorities, which will inform the upcoming 5th EAC Strategy (2017-2021) and the USAID Regional Strategy (2015-2020) under development," he said.