HIV/AIDS grants exceed US $31.5 million

Five countries in the sub-Saharan region are to receive grants of more than US $7.5 million to support medical research and community outreach and education projects on HIV/AIDS by the pharmecutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb. The funds - from the ‘Secure the Future’ commitment by Bristol-Myers Squibb - will assist women and children infected and affected by the disease in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. The company has committed funds amounting to US $100 million to the programme. Announcing the latest grants in Johannesburg, Kenneth E. Weg, vice-chairman of the company said: “The projects were selected in partnership with governments in the five countries and with the support of advisory board members who are leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. They represent pioneering models who will help answer critical questions in the community and in the clinics about how best to allocate resources and services to those infected and affected by the pandemic.”