National HIV/AIDS plan ready

Burundi's plan to tackle HIV/AIDS from 2002-2006 will be presented at a donor's meeting in Geneva in November as a follow up to a similar conference in Paris almost a year ago, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported in its humanitarian bulletin for 28 August to 17 September. The plan was developed by the Burundi government with support from the UNAIDS thematic technical groups, which includes UN agencies, the World Bank and specialised NGOs. The plan, expected to cost at least US $220 million, is composed of 16 programmes that will be implemented by the government, UN agencies and NGOs, OCHA reported. Official statistics place AIDS as the leading cause of adult mortality in Burundi, with 40,000 dead in 2000, and some 230,000 AIDS orphans. The International Committee of the Red Cross has announced its intention to launch a programme focusing on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in three prisons in Bujumbura, Gitega and Ngozi. ICRC has asked for its inclusion in the national plan.