Burkina-Faso is committed to preparing an operational national plan associated with the 2006-2010 strategic framework.

ESTHER´s action is included in this strategic framework.

For Yalgado Hospital: The Year II project plans to enhance partnership experience, notably via continuing training courses in France, journeyman system tours and setting up national workshops. Enhancing the laboratory remains a major concern due to increased activity. In 2006, ESTHER will also support new activities that should enable to enhance care quality and follow-up: setting up an ARV committee, installing a Day Hospital (whose building will be financed via an agreement by the French Development Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs), treating Opportunistic Infections, improving compliance, setting up a PMTCT activity, organizing and training a decentralized network of consultants, emotional and social support.

Charles de Gaulle Pediatric Hospital has a case load of 210 children, including 138 who are presently taking ARV drugs. Requirements were updated for the year to come. The operational plan should be covered by a financial agreement before the end of the year and enable to restart activities from early 2006

Souro Sanou Hospital in Bobo Dioulasso is twinned with Tenon Hospital (Paris Assistance Publique) and Montpellier Teaching Hospital. This ESTHER partnership is based on old links and association dynamic that makes it a model for medico-social care in Burkina-Faso. As for other ESTHER sites, activities planned for Year I were able to take place and, in 2006, joint ESTHER - City of Paris financing should enable to ensure the running of the Day Hospital, built by the Red Cross. Montpellier Hospital´s enhancement of the laboratory is also an NGO priority action. The Hospital has a major case load: 2,050 people, including 750 patients taking ARV drugs. Bobo Dioulasso´s Association Collective groups together 8 associations for whom ESTHER supports PLWHA care activities. Today, the collective enables to treat 150 patients, 300 receive food aid and about forty have an income earning activity.

Ouahigouya Regional Hospital is one of the most dynamic in ESTHER´s Burkina-Faso partnership. Co-operation with Dijon and Chambéry hospitals has been particularly active, despite reagents being out of stock and patients´ difficult economic conditions. The Hospital has a case load of 200 patients, including 81 taking ARV drugs. It aims to treat 100 patients before the end of the year. One of the hospital´s urgent needs is for associations to be involved in medico-social care for HIV-positive patients. Also, a community house has been requested within the grounds of the town´s future hospital. ESTHER is committed to supporting this initiative with the African Development Bank that finances the building site. Other providers are required to support the running of this reception centre. Furthermore, a final association collective project, which is currently being negotiated, should be presented to ESTHER for support before the end of the year.

ESTHER´s support to Burkina-Faso helps to care and support nearly 2,000 people out of the 5,200 people taking ARV drugs in the country. Support to care for PLWHA is part of the Strategic Framework to Fight AIDS. 2006 should see efforts deployed for decentralizing care, as well as emotional and social support.