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AIDS is "a matter of urgency" - Schroeder

    JOHANNESBURG

    German Chancellor Gerhard urged South African business leaders to treat the fight against HIV/AIDS as a "matter of urgency" during his first official visit to the country.

    Schroeder warned that the government's antiretroviral rollout programme should be implemented soon, as the country could be in danger of losing an entire generation.

    Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted him as saying: "HIV/AIDS has created 700,000 orphans. Fifteen percent of people between the ages 15 and 45 years in South Africa have been affected."

    The Chancellor arrived in South Africa on Wednesday after visiting Ethiopia and Kenya, and leaves on Friday for Ghana, where he will conclude his tour of Africa.

    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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