National Strategic Framework

National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS/STIs for 2003-2007 released in April 2003.

Ministry of Health
P.O. Box 212 Asmara
Tel: +291 1 117549
Fax: +291 1 122899

National AIDS and TB Control Division
Dr Andeberhan Tesfazion
Tel: +291 1 121562
Fax: +291 1 122899 / 125835
Email:

HIV/AIDS Organisations:

1. BIDHO
   Contact Person: Amanuel Tesfamichael
   P.O. Box 5537 Asmara
   Tel: +291 1 202772
   Email:
   · PLWHA association; fights against stigma and discrimination of PLWHA; care and support programmes; awareness programmes; advocacy/legal rights

2. Population Services International - Eritrean Social Marketing Group
   Contact person: Rob Maroni
   P.O. Box 5839
   Zone 1 Subzone 01
   Nakura Street, House No. 14
   Asmara, Eritrea
   Tel: +291 1 126240
   Fax: +291 1 127350

3. UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS
   Contact person: Christian Balslev-Olesen
   Tel: +291 1 151344
   Fax: +291 1 151350
   Email:

4. UNAIDS Country Coordinator
   Contact person: Dominique Mathiot
   Tel: +291 1 151599
   Fax: +291 1 151600
   Email:

For consistency reasons the data used in the above table are taken from official UN publications

For consistency reasons the data used in the above table are taken from official UN publications

Source: WHO/UNAIDS epidemiological fact sheets on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2004 Update.
Email:

Assessment of the epidemiological situation (2004)

The first round of sentinel surveillance was conducted in 1999 among women attending antenatal care clinics at 14 sites located in urban areas. No surveys were conducted in 2000, 2001 and 2002, as the system was disrupted by war. In 2001, a nationwide survey was conducted among selected groups, including women attending antenatal care clinics, the general population, female bar attendants, military personnel and students. In 1997, prevalence studies were conducted among women attending antenatal care clinics and sex workers in selected areas.

According to the nationwide survey in 2001, the median HIV prevalence among women attending antenatal care clinics was 2.9%. In 1999, HIV prevalence rates in the four zones ranged from 2.4%-6.5%. The 2001 survey suggested that the prevalence of HIV infection among the general population was 2.4%. The same survey found HIV prevalence rates of 22.8%, 4.6% and 0.1% among female bar workers, military personnel and students respectively. In 1997, 35% of the sex workers tested in the six zones of the country were HIVpositive. In 1988, 2% of sex workers tested in Asmara were HIV positive; the rate increased to 6% in 1989. Also in 1988, median HIV prevalence among sex workers tested in Assab, Keren, and Massawa was 3%; the range was 1% in Massawa to 32% in Assab.