Local NGOs on Monday welcomed a government US $26 million programme to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS, but said the authorities had yet to act on an earlier promise to provide antiretrovirals to 10,000 people living with the disease.
On Saturday President Levy Mwanawasa said the three-year Transitional Development Plan, which will run from 2002 to 2005, aimed to "reduce new infections and mitigate the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS".
Outreach coordinator of the NGO KARA Trust, Winston Zulu, told Plusnews: "This announcement by government comes as no surprise and does nothing for government credibility or commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS."
"If government was serious about making a significant commitment in the battle against HIV/AIDS, KARA would have the support we need to take care of the many people dying from the disease at our AIDS hospice," Zulu added.
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