HIV/AIDS : US increases funding in Africa

By Chinyere Amalu

ABUJA—The United State’s President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has increased funding for HIV/AIDS in Africa from $2.3 billion in 2004 to  $6.6 billion in 2009.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja at a press conference organised by the United States Embassy ahead of the 2009 World
Aids Day billed for December 1, USAID representative, Mr Alonzo Wind also promised US continuous support in the
war against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

According to him, in five years, PEPFAR has also supported live-saving antiretroviral treatment for more than 2.1
million people.

“PEPFAR was launched in 2003 by the US government to combat global AIDS and it remained the largest commitment in history by any nation to combat a single disease.

“ World Aids Day provides wonderful opportunity to reflect on what had been done and what needed to be done”, he
added.