AFEW: Annual Report 2001/2002 >> Foreword - Chairman of the Board

Annual Report 2001/2002

Foreword - Chairman of the Board

CEES GOOS, Chairman of the AFEW Board
(March 2002 - March 2003)

The current HIV/AIDS epidemic in the countries of the former Soviet Union has become an immense threat to the health and well-being of many young citizens of these countries. As a new organisation, AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW) aims at being an important contributor to the control of this epidemic. This poses an enormous challenge, but what puts AFEW in a good position is its history, its potential to combine the strengths of the East with those of the West, and its determination.

For AFEW, HIV/AIDS is not only a matter of biological warfare against a virus. It is very much more a matter of mobilizing forces and changing behaviours that lead to the spread of the virus.

The short history of AFEW is rooted in the traditions and activities of Mйdecins Sans Frontiиres - Holland (MSF-H). With the presentation of this first Annual Report, I wish to express appreciation and gratitude to MSF-H for establishing AIDS prevention activities in the Newly Independent States. It is this initiative and support from the Open Society Institute (OSI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands, which has led to the current programmes of AFEW.

However, nothing could have been established without the excellent relationships with governmental agencies in the various countries of the region. In particular, co-operation with the Ministries of Health has been much valued. It is impossible to give sufficient credit to all governmental and semi-governmental agencies in this context, but I believe that the relationship with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation has proven to be particularly valuable.

The first year of AFEW as an independent agency has been one of establishing ourselves as a new, autonomous organisation. At the same time, an ambitious work programme had to be carried out and funds needed to be raised. All of this has gone amazingly well, no doubt thanks to the determination of all staff.

I would, therefore, like to thank everybody for their engagement and efforts at helping AFEW to grow and develop into a steady partner in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Also, I would like to thank my fellow Board members – including my predecessor, Franz Trautmann – for their camaraderie and their continued readiness to aid AFEW in making a solid start as an independent organisation.