Ethiopia is committed to achieving Universal Access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. The Multi-sectoral Plan of Action for Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support in Ethiopia 2007 –2010 was developed in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders who shared lessons learned during implementation of the HIV response. The plan includes detailed activities, targets, cost estimations and a financial gap analysis, represents a major step towards the implementation of the 'Three Ones' principle.

The latest major initiative within the national response is the three-phase Millennium AIDS Campaign which aims to create a sense of urgency, ensure involvement of all stakeholders and increase in HIV prevention, care, support and treatment services. The Millennium AIDS Campaign has played a key role in strengthening of the health sector’s response to HIV, including counselling and testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission and antiretroviral treatment.

Social mobilization is also being fostered by the initiative “Community Conversations” which promotes interactive spaces within communities in order to generate a local response to HIV.

Key achievements

• Establishment of the National Partnership Forum which enabled key actors to discuss key issues and share experiences
• Increased commitment of the country to move towards universal access
• Increased experience in strategic planning
• Increased ownership and involvement of stakeholders
• Increased experience and capacity in management of HIV interventions by sectors.
• Increased experience and materialization of mainstreaming in public, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations and the private sector.

• Insufficient human resources
• Weak health infrastructure, transportation and general systems
• A need to improve the quality of care (improve adherence among people on antiretroviral treatment and institute antiretroviral resistance surveillance)
• A need to improve harmonization and alignment
• A need for increased focus on high-risk groups in urban areas and regions with high prevalence
• Need to accelerate uptake of prevention of mother-to-child transmission services. Uptake is currently 7% and Ethiopia target for 2010 is 80%
• Resource limitations as well as inadequate commitment and support from the leadership and top management the main obstacles to mainstreaming of HIV in Ethiopia.
• A need to improve surveillance in rural areas
• Poverty, conflict and famine exacerbate the vulnerability of people to HIV the impact of the epidemic
• Difficulty in reaching rural areas to provide care, support and treatment services to people living with HIV

• National Strategic Plan
• Plan of Action, 2007-2010
• HIV/AIDS Behavioural Surveillance Survey
• Single point HIV prevalence estimate
• Guidelines for paediatric HIV and AIDS care and treatment
• Multisectoral plan of action - Universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and support
• Workplace HIV and AIDS policy guidelines
• Epidemiological sythesis
• PMTCT and Paediatric Care and Treatment Fact Sheet

UNAIDS Country Office