Zambia having shown significant progress in combating AIDS receives financincial support of the US
Zambia has more than 16% of its population which is estimated to be about 11 million floundering under the ravages of the deadly scourge AIDS.
It is however commendable to see that the nation of Zambia has made considerable progress in keeping the HIV virus in check, which has been brought to the notice of the US government. In appreciation of this sizeable progress the United States has decided to support Zambia with a huge financial assistance of $149 million (about one billion R)towards the supply of free medicines given for treatment of AIDS patients in 2006.The public hospitals of Zambia provide free anti-retroviral treatment for over 70,000 HIV infected persons. Treatment programs in Zambia have been considerably scaled up at a national level.
US plans to channel the proposed funds through the US President's Emergency Fund for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) according to the US embassy.
US Global AIDS coordinator Mark Dybul plans to visit Zambia next week to visit various hospitals, clinics, HIV testing centers etc.,Apart from Zambia the PEPFAR also focuses on 14 other countries which are in dire requirement of Aids relief funds.
Source-Medindia
MST
