Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2013
55. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No.153 of 23 April 2013, if he will confirm the amount donated by Irish Aid to the Clinton Foundation in 2011 and 2012. [21599/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has worked in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) in Mozambique since 2003 and in Lesotho since 2006. CHAI is one of a series of separate initiatives established by the Clinton Foundation. It works in association with Governments and other partners to scale up prevention and treatment programmes for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, and to develop integrated health systems in partner countries. Following an evaluation of its effectiveness, the partnership between Irish Aid and the Initiative was renewed in 2010, with an agreement to work together with partner Governments in Mozambique and in Lesotho for the period 2011-2015. Ireland’s engagement is managed by our Embassies in the two countries, which are Key Partner Countries for our aid programme, where we have a commitment to long-term strategic assistance.
In Mozambique, Irish Aid provided €12 million in 2011 and €12 million in 2012 in support of the work with the Clinton Health Access Initiative. The funding was provided to the Mozambique Ministry of Health, using government systems which meet the necessary standards of transparency, accountability and reporting.
In addition, in 2011 a grant of €295,000 was made directly to CHAI in Mozambique to support the implementation of its Annual Work Plan. A grant of €200,000 was made in 2012. These grants support the provision by CHAI of technical support to the Ministry of Health, including on drug procurement and the roll-out of health technology. Our partnership in Mozambique has resulted in improved treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, with over 66,000 women treated annually. Over 200,000 people are now receiving HIV treatment in Mozambique, compared to under 2,000 at the end of 2002.
In Lesotho, based on the agreement with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Ireland provided €4.1 million in 2011 and € 3.86 million in 2012 for HIV/AIDS programmes through the Ministry of Health. An evaluation of the programme in Lesotho covering the period 2006 to 2011 was conducted by Irish Aid in 2012, in consultation with CHAI and the Ministry of Health. It concluded that the programme had delivered important results, including the provision of health services for 215,000 people in remote areas of Lesotho and HIV testing and counselling for 65,123 people.
