ESTHER SUPPORT SYSTEM

Partners who are present

Chronology

An ESTHER partnership proposal with Liberia was made by the President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac, to the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, during her official visit to France at the beginning of 2006. Bernard Kouchner, who was then Chairman of the ESTHER Board of Directors, visited Liberia at the end of October 2006.

The Minister of Health, Dr Gwenigale, came to the first ESTHER International Ministerial Conference on November 3, 2006 and renewed his request for an ESTHER partnership.

An ESTHER mission was undertaken in June 2006 within the framework of ESTHER support for activities financed by the Global Fund. The aim was to make a first contact and meet the multilateral partners.

In accordance with Board of Director recommendations on December 4, 2006, an exploratory mission composed of a Project Manager, a medical officer from GIP ESTHER and one from one of the partner hospitals (CHU Tourcoing) was undertaken in January 2007. The principal aim of this mission was to explore and clarify needs in terms of HIV/Aids treatment and care in the country and the contribution that would be needed from ESTHER.

The ESTHER action in Liberia was validated by the Board of Directors on April 16, 2007 and an official letter from Bernard Kouchner, Chairman of the Board of Directors, was sent to the Liberian Minister of Health on June 4, 2007.

At the beginning of August 2007, the first training mission and drawing up of a partnership project were carried out by CHU Tourcoing, CHU Rennes and CHU Treichville (Abidjan, Côte d´Ivoire).

MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN 2008

An Administrative Arrangement that formalised the ESTHER action was signed by the French and Liberian Ministers of Health at the end of 2008.

Participation of a doctor from the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Hospital at the International HIV/Aids Conference in Mexico.