United Nations to help fight HIV/AIDS

Washington, Dec 2: President Bush has said the United States is committed to help stop the spread of the deadly HIV/AID and help 39 million people who are living with the deadly disease around the world.

Marking World AIDS Day yesterday, President Bush met top US health officials and community leaders that battle the disease in countries like Botswana, Ivory Coast and Namibia and said that ''HIV/AIDS pandemic can be defeated.'' ''This country is committed, we are committed to helping solve this problem by dedicating a lot of resources to the battle against HIV/AIDS,'' he said. ''The American taxpayers have funded over 15 billion dollars to help groups around this table save lives.'' The White House said that money was being used over a five-year period to pay for treatment for 2 million people, prevention for 7 million and care for 10 million.

President Bush said before the programme began, about 50,000 people were receiving lifesaving drugs. Today, more than 800,000 people are being treated with medicine to combat the disease.

Mr Bush's initiative targets 15 countries, including many in sub-Saharan Africa.

More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since the first case was reported 25 years ago. The United Nations said the virus is the leading cause of death among men and women between the ages of 15 and 59.

UNI

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