Zambia To Receive $150M in HIV/AIDS-Related Funding From U.S. in 2006, Ambassador Says
The U.S. in fiscal year 2006 has allocated about $150 million to fight HIV/AIDS in Zambia, up from $135 million in FY 2005, U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Carmen Martinez said on Monday, the Times of Zambia/AllAfrica.com reports. Speaking at the opening of an HIV/AIDS comprehensive care center in Ndola, Zambia -- which was built at the Ndola Central Hospital using funds from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- Martinez said the U.S. is proud to support the Zambian government to fight the country's HIV/AIDS epidemic (Times of Zambia/AllAfrica.com, 3/14). PEPFAR this year also has contributed $3.5 million to eight Zambian companies that are partnering with the U.S. for a program that aims to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in the workplace (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 2/10). According to Xinhuanet, a recent report by the National AIDS Council of Zambia estimated the country's HIV prevalence rate at 12%. About 40,000 of the estimated 200,000 HIV-positive people in the country who need antiretroviral drugs are receiving them from the government (Xinhuanet, 3/14).