By Tom Easter
June 7, 2004

The United States Conference of mayors' message about U.S. mayors commitment to raising awareness about the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa reached the nation of Ethiopia. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) sent a task force of US representatives to the nation of Ethiopia to investigate the HIV/AIDS epidemic in that nation. Macon (GA) Mayor C. Jack Ellis, representing the Conference of Mayors, addressed an audience of over 500 Ethiopian representatives as the only locally elected delegate.

In his speech, Ellis emphasized the critical importance a coordinated and synergistic local response to HIV/AIDS. "Whether we are talking about AIDS in Africa or AIDS in the U. S., no conversation can be complete without a comprehensive discussion of the all of the prevention options including condom usage. Cities and local leaders are the catalysts for that dialogue," stated Ellis. Based on its more than twenty years of helping USA mayors meet the challenges of HIV/AIDS and its Mayors Mission to Africa in September 2003, the Conference of Mayors has pledged to raise international awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The CSIS Task Force on HIV/AIDS went to Ethiopia to catalyze U.S. engagement in Ethiopia in combating HIV/AIDS and to identify challenges and opportunities in implementing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Dr. Kathleen Cravero, deputy executive director of UNAIDS, chaired the delegation that comprised of senior-level representatives from a variety of sectors — multilateral organizations, U.S. government, the corporate sector, foundations, nongovernmental organizations, and public health and educational institutions. The aim was to create an informed, activist nucleus of experts who can promote U.S.-Ethiopian engagement on HIV/AIDS in their respective sectors. The delegation also strengthened the voices of those already committed to combating the pandemic in Ethiopia.

CSIS will publish the delegation's report, summarizing the status of the pandemic in Ethiopia and assess the response to date of the Ethiopian government and other key stakeholders. It will identify the critical challenges and gaps that future efforts are likely to confront, with particular reference to the implementation of PEPFAR and offer frank and constructive and recommendations to both U.S. and Ethiopian interests. The delegation's report will be presented to Senators Frist and Feingold (honorary co-chairs of the Task Force) and to other members of the Task Force's eminent persons panel at its next full session on June 17. The report will be distributed to a broad policy audience, and presented in a series of briefings with congressional staff, key administration officials, the private sector, and the Ethiopian diaspora.

For more information on the Conference of Mayors work on HIV/AIDS in Africa and domestically, please go to usmayors.org