UNAIDS, OPEC Fund for International Development Sign Initiative To Combat HIV/AIDS in 14 Countries
UNAIDS and the OPEC Fund for International Development on Friday signed a "Global Initiative on HIV/AIDS" to boost the fight against HIV/AIDS in 14 countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, according to a UNAIDS release. The OPEC Fund will contribute a $4 million grant to the two-year initiative, and UNAIDS will match the grant with "in-kind contributions," according to the release. The initiative will focus on increasing political commitment to efforts to fight the disease, especially among women; national capacities and leadership; partnerships with public, private and civil society; and other issues. The initiative also plans to address "sub-regional challenges" that increase HIV risk, including migration and regional conflict, according to the release. The groups expect the initiative to improve access to HIV prevention, care and support services; increase leadership support; bolster national AIDS responses; and reduce HIV incidence in the targeted countries of Bangladesh, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, Jamaica, Jordan, Mali, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Tunisia. OPEC Fund Director-General Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish said, "The evidence is undeniable. More resources need to be raised by the international community to fight this disease and stop the erosion of progress made over several decades of development work." UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot said that the agency "welcome[s] the collaboration with the OPEC Fund" (UNAIDS release, 5/7).
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