Hit by AIDS pandemic

President Negasso Gidada admitted that Ethiopia has become one of the countries hardest hit by the AIDs pandemic. While launching the National AIDS Council he said 9.3 percent of the population aged between 15 and 45 are HIV positive according to "foreign experts", state television reported. The launch was attended by several ministers, religious dignitaries, diplomats and NGO representatives. President Negasso said Ethiopia's fight against AIDS had been held back because of poor coordination. Ethiopia initiated HIV awareness and AIDs projects after the
fall of Mengistu Haile Miriam in 1991, when it faced the return and demobilisation of some 400,000 soldiers, one of Africa's largest armies. In the early 1990's - in a tacit recognition of the size of the problem - consultants from Uganda were brought in. According to President Negasso and head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abuna Paulos, AIDS had affected "the most productive forces in the country", Ethiopian state radio said.