Joint response planned to tackle AIDS

African delegates are currently meeting in the Mozambican capital, Maputo, to plan a common strategy in tackling the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Representatives from Kenya, Ethiopia, Congo and Zambia will assess the impact of HIV/AIDS on the economy, society and governance of their respective countries. Mozambican Prime Minister Luisa Diogo was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying: "The disease threatens development, social cohesion, stability and food security." Research shows that nearly 30 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in Africa, where life expectancy had dropped below 40 years in most countries.