PROCAARE: HIV prevention: Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline

[procaare@usa.healthnet.org]

[From the CDC AIDS news]

"World Bank Oil-Pipeline Project Designed to Prevent HIV
Transmission"
Lancet (11/29/97) Vol. 350, No. 9091, P. 1608; Kigotho, Anderson
Wachira

     The World Bank has financed a $3.5 billion Chad-Cameroon
oil-pipeline project set to begin construction in March 1998; it
is the first large-scale construction project in sub-Saharan
Africa to integrate an HIV/AIDS prevention program into its
design.  In addition to bringing economic benefits to the two
countries, the project will employ an estimated 3,000 workers
from Chad and Cameroon, 600 of whom will be truck drivers.  Since
there is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS along the pipeline route,
as well as a high rate of prostitution in some areas along the
route, the World Bank and the two countries have appropriated $4
million for HIV/AIDS intervention programs.  According to
baseline data and experiences gained in sub-Saharan Africa,
researchers believe the program will increase the monitoring of
sexually transmitted diseases and the HIV status of workers. It
will also provide the pipeline workforce with condoms,
contraceptives, and treatments. Additionally, healthcare workers
will provide education and information about HIV prevention. AIDS
researcher John Caldwell says the program will help African
governments determine how health programs in major construction
projects can be used to prevent potential AIDS epidemics.

KEYWORDS: PREVENTION, CHAD, CAMEROON, DEVELOPMENT, WORLD BANK, PIPELINE
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