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By: thatmaybe
14 Oct 2003, 12:02 AM EDT
Msg. 21786 of 21790
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ANOTHER GREAT ARTICLE: Africa to get lion's share of US Aids funds
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GABORONE - Africa is to get the lion's share of a $15 billion pledge by US President George W. Bush to fight AIDS, a top Washington official says.
Randall Tobias, whom Bush appointed in July to co-ordinate global US policy to fight the pandemic, said he had chosen Botswana to conduct his first fact-finding mission outside the United States to show the importance Washington attached to Africa.
"The intention is to devote 15 billion dollars to 14 countries which account for 50 percent of the world's HIV infection. Twelve of those countries are in Africa and Botswana is one of them," Tobias told reporters.
"I am here, and I think that should speak for itself, to tell you that Africa would get the biggest share of the total amount," he said after meeting Botswanan President Festus Mogae.
Bush unveiled a 15-billion-dollar plan to fight the disease in January, and showcased the five-year scheme during a whirlwind tour of Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Botswana and Uganda.
But US lawmakers have been split over funding for the much-touted plan, and last month, U2 rocker and activist Bono told Bush of his fears of seeing the United States break its promise to contribute to the battle against AIDS.
Of the 42 million people infected with HIV/AIDS, 29 million live in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the United Nations' AIDS agency.
Botswana is one of the countries with the highest adult infection rate in the world with near 40 percent either being HIV positive or having full-blown AIDS.
Tobias named the 12 countries earmarked to receive funding as Botswana, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
"The money will be used to pay for drugs, but the biggest challenge we are facing is on human resources. We need people who can administer and care for the sick. People have to be tested and be cared for," he said.
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