Clinton Joins Ethiopia’s Battle Against AIDS

Ethiopia can hope for renewed support in its battle against AIDS now that former US president Bill Clinton pledged more support to combat HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia on Friday. He has started a four-nation African tour in the African nation.

His Clinton Foundation announced the Horn of Africa nation will receive five million dollars over three years to help prevent the spread of AIDS, which kills around 370 Ethiopians each day, according to UN figures.

AIDS/HIV
"AIDS is an epidemic disease, a potentially preventable, deadly infection for which there is no cure, no vaccine, and it is not under control." - National Commission on AIDS, 1993.

''I want to personally make sure that every baby born here will not be HIV-positive,'' Clinton said on a visit to a health centre in Godino Jitu, 70 kilometres (43 miles) south of Addis Ababa.

''This centre is one of several hundred that have received help from the foundation, but will soon be one of thousands,'' Clinton told hundreds of residents.

The Clinton Foundation launched an anti-AIDS initiative in 2002 and this month has reached an agreement with several pharmaceutical companies to slash the price of the top anti-malaria treatment by 30 percent.

Clinton will also visit Rwanda, Liberia and Senegal, as part of a trip to promote his foundation's efforts to tackle AIDS and malaria.

Source-AFP
TAN/K

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