US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI934

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000934 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR AF AND AF/E 
STATE ALSO PASS USAID 
NAIROBI FOR AID/REDSO 
PARIS/LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, SOCI, DJ, UN 
SUBJECT:  HEALTH MINISTER FOCUSES ON REFORM AND GLOBAL 
FUND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DJIBOUTI 
 
 
1.  (U)  Summary:   In separate meetings September 13 with USAID 
Representative and Ambassador, Minister of Health, Abdallah Abdillahi 
focused on health development and reform of Djibouti's Ministry of He 
recovery for renovation of Peltier and improving health services and 
resources would be a major issue for his ministry and for the governm 
Minister also expressed disappointment that Djibouti's application to 
Round of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria had been 
down by the Global Fund.  Ambassador pledged assistance of USAID staf 
helping the Ministry address issues raised in the Global Fund's techn 
evaluation of the proposal.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (U) In a meeting September 13 with USAID Representative, accompan 
USAID/Djibouti Senior Health Advisor and USAID/Djibouti Health Specia 
FSN, Minister of Health Abdallah Abdillahi Miguil reviewed his plans 
reform in Djibouti. These plans include renovating and reviewing func 
primary hospital, Peltier, improving human resources, and improving t 
of health services.  For the Minister, cost recovery was a major issu 
Ministry of Health had developed a plan for it and the plan would be 
USAID.  In addition, Miguil said, the Ministry had already begun impl 
cost recovery program at two hospitals, including Peltier, and that a 
meeting on the subject would be held by the end of October. 
 
3. (U) The Minister also voiced his concern about the small percentag 
national budget that goes to support his Ministry. Currently only 4% 
is allocated for the Ministry of Health. He suggested that USAID exer 
pressure possible on the central government to assist in convincing t 
government to increase his ministry's budget. 
 
4. (U)  USAID representative asked the Minister about his views on th 
health and education program with the Ministry of Education to fight 
including khat. She wanted to know if the Minister was still on board 
program and sought additional ideas he had about the approach, includ 
envisaged for USAID. She cited USAID's many years of experience in ot 
African countries developing and using telemedia to educate the publi 
health issues such as HIV/AIDS and other diseases. The Minister said 
time, his Ministry does not have a clear policy on health education, 
would convene a small planning team to look into the matter. The Mini 
that he intended to launch a large anti-drug campaign on November 20, 
worldwide "Day of the Child" celebration. 
 
5. (U) The Minister also indicated that he will seek technical assist 
USAID as well as other partners to help the Ministry of Health evalua 
or not it can achieve the objectives of its "National Health Reform S 
evaluation might help the Ministry make slight adjustments, as needed 
that overall objectives are more readily attained. 
 
6. (U)  Miguil noted to USAID representative that the next health "Do 
Coordination" meeting would be held during the first week of October. 
his concern that the World Health Organization (WHO) holds the presid 
this committee rather than himself.  USAID representative agreed that 
Minister should chair this committee, and that USAID would work to se 
change was made. It was reported, as well, that the technical committ 
resources of the "Donor Coordination" group, met in June to discuss p 
efforts made to improve human resources within the Ministry of Health 
meeting will be held later in October. 
 
7. (U)  USAID representative noted during the meeting that her agency 
working to help create an improved health information system, that wa 
computer-based, but many obstacles to its development remain. A simil 
program was developed within the Ministry of Education with USAID ass 
and that the same could be done within the Ministry of Health. 
 
8. (U)  During a separate meeting the same day with Ambassador and US 
Representative, the Minister conveyed his disappointment over the fai 
Djibouti to secure additional resources from the Global Fund for Djib 
Tuberculosis and Malaria prevention and treatment proposal, which was 
submitted for the 5th round of funding. He gave a copy to the Ambassa 
technical evaluation provided by the Fund.  The Ambassador pledged th 
assistance of the USAID team in working with Ministry of Health offic 
them address the issues raised in the technical evaluation.  She, wit 
wanted to ensure that a proper and comprehensive response could be su 
before the deadline of September 22, 2005.  Although the Minister sai 
thought USAID representatives had been consulted in the initial round 
preparation of Djibouti's proposal, it was subsequently learned that 
not been asked to provide input into the original application for thi 
 
RAGSDALE