Britain has announced it will fund treatment programmes in the developing world for the first time after a recent UNAIDS annual report showing a rise in global HIV/AIDS-related deaths.
The British Department for International Development had previously backed HIV/AIDS prevention, but did not support treatment programmes.
According to Hilary Benn, the international development secretary, lower antiretroviral drug prices and the realisation that whole regions of the world faced economic ruin had led to the decision.
In an interview with the UK's Independent newspaper, Benn said: "Generations are being wiped out by the disease. If we are honest, we should have done more sooner."
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