30 Nov 2009

DJIBOUTI / AIDS

Though relatively small, the African Horn nation of Djibouti has a high rate of HIV/ AIDS. The country is now working to reverse that, through increased health care services and counseling. WORLD BANK

Posted at: November 30, 2009 4:06 pm

Duration: 03:00

Available in: SD

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STORY: DJIBOUTI /AIDS 
TRT: 3.00
SOURCE: WORLD BANK
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: JULY 2009. DJIBOUTI CITY, DJIBOUTI

SHOTLIST:

JULY 2009, DJIBOUTI CITY, DJIBOUTI

1. Med shot, lady in examining room
2. Close up, Dr. Chahnas
3. Close up, hand of Dr. writing
4. Wide shot, clinic
5. Wide shot, patients
6. Various shots, ladies waiting
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Chahnas Said Salem, midwife:
"When they come for the first time, we make them a file and we speak of HIV AIDS, we try to understand what they know already from radio and television, or from friends, and we complete for them whatever information they are missing, and if the woman agrees, we do a blood test and if she is positive, we explain that we will treat her and take care of her and her baby."
9. Wide shot, Dr. with patient
10. Close up, pills on desk
11. Close up, lady with burqa
12. Wide shot, Dr. with patient
13. Wide shot, clinic hallway
14. Various shots, patients in waiting area
15. Med shot, young girl
16. Tilt down, from poster warning of HIV to patients waiting
17. Various shots, lab equipment
18. Wide shot, Dr. Zaki at lab 
19. Various shots, Dr's hand with lab equipment
20. SOUNDBITE (French) Zakaria Mahamoud,   Biologist:
"The cd 4 machine allows us to determine immunity levels and see if they are still intact with the treatment the patient takes, or are diminishing.  Another machine allows us to see if the patient has any blood antigens or any other infections."
21. Various shots, Dr. looking into microscope
22. Med shot, nurse in lab
23. Various shots, people in streets

JULY 2009, DJIBOUTI CITY, DJIBOUTI

24. SOUNDBITE (French)   Omar Ali, Executive Secretary of HIV/AIDS Control Project:
"The result is we have brought the rate of HIV AIDS down from 3 to 2 percent today, or 1.8 percent, and we have less cases of Tuberculosis each year.  But the combat is far from over.  The combat must continue, because it is regional: people are coming here from Ethiopia, Somalia, and even now from Yemen to be treated in Djibouti."

JULY 2009, ALI SABEIH, DJIBOUTI

25. Various shots, Safia with doctor
26. SOUNDBITE (ARABIC) Safia Ahmed, Patient
"They speak to us of HIV and many other things, they monitor me through my pregnancy, and I am accompanied here by a doctor."
27. Med shot, Safia with Dr.

STORYLINE:

Doctor Chahnas Said Salem sees up to forty women a day in her office at this government-run health center in Djibouti.

The center is one of 20 prenatal care clinics around the tiny African nation offering free counseling, HIV testing and - for pregnant women who test positive - free treatment.

SOUNDBITE (French) -Chahnas Said Salem, midwife:
"When they come for the first time, we make them a file and we speak of HIV AIDS, we try to understand what they know already from radio and television, or from friends, and we complete for them whatever information they are missing, and if the woman agrees, we do a blood test and if she is positive, we explain that we will treat her and take care of her and her baby."

The prenatal clinics are part of Djibouti's HIV AIDS Control project which the country started with a grant from the World Bank Group.

Under the project, Djibouti's hospitals and health centers have been upgraded to provide expanded HIV treatment and prevention services, both for those living with AIDS as well as for their family members.

And newly-equipped laboratories set up under the project, says Zakaria Mahmoud, now allow him and other biologists in Djibouti to better diagnose and deal with the disease.

SOUNDBITE (French) Zakaria Mahamoud, Biologist: 
"The cd 4 machine allows us to determine immunity levels and see if they are still intact with the treatment the patient takes, or are diminishing.  Another machine allows us to see if the patient has any blood antigens or any other infections."

The national campaign, which involves combating Malaria and Tuberculosis as well, is leading to wider awareness about HIV AIDS among the general population, say those involved in the project.

But despite Djibouti's significant progress in combating HIV AIDS,  much more remains to be done, says Omar Ali, project secretary,

SOUNDBITE (French)   Omar Ali, Executive Secretary of HIV/AIDS Control Project:
"The result is we have brought the rate of HIV AIDS down from 3 to 2 percent today, or 1.8 percent, and we have less cases of Tuberculosis each year.  But the combat is far from over.  The combat must continue, because it is regional: people are coming here from Ethiopia, Somalia, and even now from Yemen to be treated in Djibouti."

Twenty eight-year old Safia Ahmed tested negative at this prenatal clinic in Djibouti's capital. She still comes every couple of weeks though, for checkups on her expected third child… and for good advice,

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Safia Ahmed, Patient:
"They speak to us of HIV and many other things, they monitor me through my pregnancy, and I am accompanied here by a doctor."

Safia says the care and information she and others receive inside the clinic ,  have better prepared them to stay safe and healthy outside!