Efforts are being made by the United Nations to encourage awareness among its peacekeeping operations in the prevention and control of communicable diseases, Fred Eckhard, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, reported on Wednesday.
UN Security Council resolutions on peacekeeping operations now include a clause that encourages efforts by the United Nations to sensitise peacekeeping personnel in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, he said.
Although there are no statistics or evidence to suggest that UN peacekeepers have spread AIDS, Eckhard said, civilian and military personnel can be exposed to the dangers of contracting or spreading AIDS and, because of this, the UN has increased preventive measures.
Budgets proposed by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations for the UN missions in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo include money for buying and distributing condoms.
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