Monday, January 17, 2011

ETHIOPIA: Transport sector launches HIV policy

source: irinnews.
ADDIS ABABA, 17 January 2011 (PlusNews) - The Ethiopian government has unveiled an HIV policy for its transport sector, which has grown significantly in recent years alongside the rapidly expanding road network.

"Various national studies have shown that those working across the transport sector - especially drivers and their assistants - are vulnerable to HIV infection as they spend considerable time away from their families," said Ethiopia's transport authority director Kassahun Hailemariam.

The country's Federal Transport Authority (FTA) and commercial transporters jointly issued the policy in December. It sets up a national taskforce to raise funds from state and non-state actors to finance projects, including condom distribution, and helping transport staff and family members living with the virus.

The government has earmarked 2 percent of the FTA's annual budget to work towards an HIV-free transport sector. Although exact figures for the number of transport workers - from drivers to drivers' assistants and loaders - are hard to come by, an FTA official said the figure was "in the tens of thousands".  More reading ..

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