The World Bank announced at the weekend that it will ask its Executive Directors to approve a US $500 million AIDS funding programme to be made available to African countries which set up national AIDS programmes.
Callisto Madavo, the vice-president of the Bank's Africa region said: "This programme will set aside US $500 million from the Bank's soft loan window, the International Development Association, to fund HIV/AIDS programmes. Nearly every country in Africa will be able to access these funds. All that is needed is a sound national AIDS strategy developed in a participatory way, backed by serious government commitment."
Madavo added that money alone is not the answer. "AIDS is, above all, an issue of commitment. The sobering reality is that AIDS is not a health problem, but a serious development issue. Only where governments show leadership can international support be effective."
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
Share this article