SADC leaders seek joint AIDS plan

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) are in the process of seeking a joint plan on tackling HIV/AIDS, Reuters reported on Friday. SADC heads of state are scheduled to meet on 4 July in Lesotho where, for the first time, the HIV/AIDS pandemic will be discussed by 14 of the region's countries. A spokeswoman for the SADC secretariat, Esther Kanaimba, said, "Despite all our efforts, the disease is not abating. We have to come together to find a regional approach. By sharing our experiences in care, treatment and education about HIV/AIDS, we might be able to come up with a successful common strategy." It is estimated that 40 percent of global HIV infections are concentrated in the SADC area.