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AIDS activists welcome budget boost

    JOHANNESBURG

    South African AIDS activists, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), have welcomed the decision by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel to provide more than US $317 million for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

    In his recent 2004 budget speech to parliament, Manuel said the multimillion dollar boost would take place over the next three years, with the bulk of it going towards the cost of provincially administered antiretroviral treatment programmes.

    TAC said while it was pleased with the decision, it hoped the department of health would spend the money wisely.

    Mark Heywood, TAC national secretary, told the UN news service PlusNews: "The challenge now is to make sure the budgeted amount is spent - that it is moved to the provinces quickly, spent transparently and efficiently."

    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

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