WHEREAS, HIV/AIDS is a communicable disease that is spreading at an alarming rate in Ethiopia;
WHEREAS, in addition to the suffering and death it may cause to individuals, the disease has a serious impact on the complex socio-economic development of the country;
WHEREAS, unless contained through a concerted, multifaceted prevention and control campaign based on popular participation, HIV/AIDS will cause a health and socio-economic crisis that is extremely disastrous;
WHEREAS, to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS, it has become necessary to establish a national body that involves various governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as various sectors of society, and an autonomous government executive organ;
NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with Article 55(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is hereby proclaimed as follows:
