General Gnassingbe Eyadema ruled Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005; his son, Faure Gnassinghe assumed power and was elected to the presidency a few months later. Although in recent years Western bilateral aid has been withheld, the EU has resumed some donations following promises of political reform.

The malaria death rate for children ages 0-4 is 256 per 100,000 population, substantially lower than in neighboring Benin. About 2 percent of Togolese children sleep under treated bednets. The tuberculosis death rate is 57 per 100,000 of all ages. An estimated 76 percent of TB cases are treated under the DOTS program. The HIV prevalance rate for adults is 6 percent.

Sources: BBC country profile, CIA World Factbook, United Nations Statistics Division

Togo's Ministry of Health is supporting the use of Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) treatment for malaria, but the cost of those drugs exceeds the ability of many patients to pay. The use of traditional plant medicines, and the purchase of drugs on the open market, continue to provide the sources of malaria treatment for the majority of Togolese.

Sources: IRIN, August 6, 2004; WHO; IRIN, July 9, 2004

Demographic data contained in this section was obtained from the following sources: The Population Reference Bureau’s 2009 World Population Data Sheet was used for total population, life expectancy at birth, infant mortality, fertility, birth rate, death rate, % of married women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception, % of population 15-49 with HIV/AIDS in 2007/2008, and the GNI PPP per capita (2008). Literacy rates were found in the Population Reference Bureau’s publication 2005 Women of Our World. HIV prevalence data for 2001 and 2003 was obtained from the UNAIDS Barcelona 2002 report; HIV prevalence and orphan data for 2005 was obtained from the UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic 2006. Data on the % women who have discussed AIDS prevention with their husband or partner can be found in ORC Macro and USAID’s Women’s Lives and Experiences: Changes in the Past Ten Years (Research Findings from the Demographic and Health Surveys). Childhood malaria mortality data was accessed in 2003 from the United Nations Statistics Divisions’ Millennium Indicators. Tuberculosis data was obtained from the United Nations Statistics Division’s Millennium Indicators: MDGInfo 2006. In some cases information was unavailable.

Sources: WHO, Trav Med

National HIV/STD Center, CHU-Tokoin

Université du Bénin au Togo, Faculté de Médecine de Lomé ( website )

1. The GFATM has signed a fourth round grant agreement to provide $12 million to fight HIV/AIDS in Togo. A grant for $6.4 million has also been signed to fight malaria in Togo. These grant agreements have not yet been signed. (Although approximateyl $8.6 million in GFATM funds have been disbursed to Togo under other agreements.)

   One of the major purposes of the fourth round GFATM grant, to be implemented by Population Services International (PSI), is to continue a national condom ... additional information