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The South African social services and population development minister, Zola Skweyiya, has said research into the effect of HIV/AIDS on children is critical for the region's future development.
Skweyiya told his southern African counterparts at a recent meeting in Cape Town that the virus was devastating communities and families, and aggravating poverty by killing society's most productive members.
According to the South African Press association, he urged that the pandemic be tackled "more vigorously, in an integrated manner".
"We need to strengthen programmes that will further reduce new infections, whilst pursuing integrated measures like care, support and treatment of those infected," Namibia's health and social services minister, Libertina Amathilla, confirmed.
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