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Free HIV/AIDS drug project lauded

    JOHANNESBURG

    The third-largest drug manufacturer in the world has commended the success of Botswana's free HIV/AIDS drug programme, Associated Press (AP) reported on Wednesday.

    The diamond-rich country is the first in Africa to commit to a widespread programme of providing HIV/AIDS drugs free of charge through its public health system.

    Pharmaceutical giant Merck and Co said it was impressed by the drop in HIV prevalence rates among pregnant women from 36.2 percent in 2001 to 25.4 percent at present.

    "Despite it being such a small change, this is still an encouraging sign," Merck and Co human health president, Per Wold-Olsen, said.

    Botswana has set itself the target of ending all new HIV infections by 2016.

    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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