The Canadian government has pledged US $76 million to strengthen African-led strategies and programmes for the care, treatment, support and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Canada's announcement was made in response to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) request that donor nations should back the "three by five" goal of providing treatment to three million people living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries by the end of 2005.
The minister for international cooperation, Susan Whelan, said in a recent statement: "Canada's support for these initiatives today reflects our much deeper commitment to expanding our role in the fight against this global pandemic. If we are to make lasting gains in development and poverty reduction around the world, we must halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS."
Whelan also confirmed that initial contributions of up to $35 million would go to Tanzania and Mozambique, where HIV/AIDS prevalence rates were estimated to be among the highest in the world.
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