Joint AIDS effort welcomed amidst concern for refugees

In a collaborative effort the government of Angola and the UN have launched a national strategic plan to tackle the country's HIV/AIDS crisis.

In terms of the plan, priority will be given to vulnerable groups such as the youth - especially young girls - truck drivers, the military, miners, and orphans.

UNAIDS representative Dr Alberto Stella recently told the UN news service PlusNews: "I think it's a very good document, since it focuses on three main strategies – institutional capacity, prevention, and help to people already living with HIV/AIDS – which are completely in line the strategies already identified by UNAIDS. It's got a good budget that gives clear indications in terms of financial resources."

Stella stressed that another key group needing to be reached were the millions of refugees and displaced people returning home after the end of almost three decades of civil war.