Speech by:Ato Gashaw Mengistu

Coordinator, AIDS Resource Center

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is with great pride that I stand here today to welcome you to the official opening of the AIDS Resource Center. As Ato Negatu mentioned, this was the dream of Tadesse Wuhib of CDC Ethiopia who made the resources available for Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs and Analytical Sciences Inc. to turn it into a reality.

In October 2001 Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs performed a needs assessment to explore where best to locate this center. The overwhelming response from those consulted was that it should be housed within the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office. Once this was agreed to, the necessary key staff were employed. This team, together with strong technical support from Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs and Analytical Sciences Inc. and the ongoing cooperation from HAPCO, has established what you see before you today.

The AIDS Resource Center’s overall mission is to be the hub of the most up to date and accurate local and international multimedia materials and resources on HIV/AIDS, STDs, TB and related issues. We also aim to coordinate resources and activities such that our prevention and treatment efforts to combat this epidemic complement one another. Specifically the AIDS Resource Center’s objectives include:

Providing up to date and accurate information on HIV/AIDS, STDs and tuberculosis;
Acting as a clearinghouse for Ethiopian HIV/AIDS and related materials;
Developing effective, culturally appropriate materials and resources for the HIV/AIDS community;
Training and supporting journalists in their reporting on HIV and AIDS.

The Center achieves this by offering a comprehensive, multi-media reference collection that includes periodicals, official guidelines and documents, reference books, brochures, slides and posters. These are available in print and electronic format. The Center’s web site and searchable databases will permit users anywhere in Ethiopia and across the globe to access current and relevant HIV/AIDS information. A list serve will enable all those working in HIV to communicate with each other. There are high-speed computer terminals available that allow users to access the web site, to browse the multimedia collection, to conduct Internet research on the World Wide Web and to run CD-ROMS. State of the art audiovisual equipment is available for users who need to examine or duplicate video and audio materials. Materials development is already underway with the production of voluntary counseling and testing materials.

To date four databases have been developed. One on HIV/AIDS organizations in Ethiopia, one of the HIV/AIDS and related resources in the Resource Center, and conference and funding databases that provide users with information about HIV/AIDS events, workshops and conferences locally and internationally as well as potential donors and their contact details. These databases are the most comprehensive ever created for Ethiopia and will be available and accessible on the Internet, free to everyone.

Obviously this is just the beginning. The Center’s future plans include establishing regional sites, an AIDS hotline and an effective materials distribution mechanism. However, today our current services become immediately available to government agencies, health professionals, community service providers, people living with HIV and AIDS and the general public.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the organizations that have sent us their HIV/AIDS and related materials free of charge or at a reduced cost. I’d also like to extend a special thanks the ARC team, the Johns Hopkins University staff, especially Hugh Rigby, Kate Stratten, and Ato Araya Demissie, to the CDC staff, in particular Dr Tadesse Wuhib and Roger Follas, Jesse Milan and his technical team from ASI, and Ato Negatu and his staff at HAPCO. All have worked endlessly to get the ARC ready for today’s launch. It has not been without its challenges but due to everyone’s commitment and common vision we’ve been able to overcome these hurdles and we are now open for business.

Lastly, we look forward to your support and serving you in the best way possible. So, welcome again. Please take the time after the ribbon cutting to tour the facilities and please visit our web site and come to our facilities any time.

Thank you very much for attending this special occasion.