Military Networking Key to Eliminating HIV/AIDS: Hormazd Sethna

Hormazd Sethna is a desk officer for countries in the US Pacific Command region, including India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. This is the third blog post in a series written from the 2010 International HIV/AIDS Conference in Tanzania.

April 17, 2010 - I joined the Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP) in February 2009 as a desk officer for countries in the US Pacific Command (USPACOM) region. I came to DHAPP with a background in medical anthropology and public health, and some experience working on HIV/AIDS projects, both in the U.S., as well as my native India.

My first reaction to seeing the job posting for DHAPP was, “What does the U.S. Department of Defense have to do with HIV prevention?”, followed quickly by, “Why would they want to hire a civilian like me, whose military experience extends only as far as being a fan of the television show ‘MASH’?”

As I learned, HIV/AIDS poses a threat to militaries as much as, if not more so, than the civilian population. This, in turn, poses a threat to national security.

DHAPP plays a leadership role in working with the militaries of over eighty countries across the globe to eliminate this threat by developing and strengthening sustainable programs in prevention, care, and treatment. These programs form the cornerstone of military-to-military diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and the militaries of the host countries. Militaries also often serve as a change agent for the broader society, so it stands to reason that they are actively involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

My duties as desk officer have extended me the privilege of traveling to countries like Indonesia and Laos to assess their military HIV/AIDS programs and work with them in developing strategies to strengthen these programs and ensure their sustainability. I have also attended an international conference in Botswana, and collaborated with U.S. Government colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in providing technical assistance in HIV prevention to civilian and military partners in Kenya.

That’s a lot of frequent flyer miles!

I write this blog from Arusha, Tanzania where DHAPP has organized the Third Annual International Military HIV/AIDS Conference. The Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF) is playing host to delegates from over sixty countries, including India, Indonesia, Nepal and Vietnam from the USPACOM area of responsibility. In addition. the guest list also boasts invitees from the Combatant Commands, the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, the United Nations Joint Program on HIV/AIDS, and (drum roll please!) the President of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.

The level of seriousness with which militaries view the HIV/AIDS threat is demonstrated by the attendee list. Flag officers, heads of military medical services, and directors of HIV/AIDS services are all in attendance, using the opportunity to share their expertise, ideas, and best practices with each other.