The 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Sunday launched its HIV/AIDS strategic framework aimed at strengthening the region's fight against the disease.
The plan - developed by SADC's health ministers - was launched on the eve of the start of the 13th International AIDS conference in the South African coastal city of Durban on Monday.
South Africa's Health Minister, Mantombi Tshabalala-Msimang, who hosted the regional meeting, said regional cooperation in fighting the disease could lead to solidarity as well as economic and political integration in SADC.
Tshabalala-Msimang said SADC ministers had also reached agreement with pharmaceutical companies that no further announcement would be made about making anti-HIV/AIDS drugs available to people in the region. She said that SADC countries needed more information before any offer could be considered and accepted. "We need to know the extent of the offer, the duration of the offer and any conditions that may apply to the offer."
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