SOUTHERN AFRICA: Morris calls for increased effort in AIDS fight

JOHANNESBURG, 18 Jun 2004 (PLUSNEWS) - After visits to Mozambique and Malawi, James Morris, the UN Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, has highlighted the impact of HIV/AIDS on food security in the region.

Mozambique's spiralling HIV/AIDS rate needed to be checked before it exacted an "irreversible toll" on the country, Morris said on Friday. He found it "disturbing that despite all our best efforts, HIV/AIDS prevalence rates continue to grow".

The envoy, who arrived in Mozambique on Wednesday accompanied by mission members from eight UN agencies, is reviewing how the UN system and the international community can more effectively assist the most vulnerable people in battling the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, food insecurity, and the weakened capacity of human resources in the region.

Official figures estimate that the average HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among adults in Mozambique is 13.6 percent, with some provincial rates rising to nearly 27 percent. Each day 500 new infections are recorded, of which 50 percent are people aged 25 or younger, mostly women.

Morris visited Malawi earlier this week, where he called on authorities to focus attention over the year ahead on the needs of children and families, particularly orphans and those affected by HIV/AIDS.

The confluence of chronic poverty, HIV/AIDS and regular disruptions to food security caused by erratic weather and policies has plagued Malawi for the last few years. The latest UN assessment indicates that up to 1.3 million Malawians will need food aid in the coming year.

Morris will also visit Swaziland and Namibia as part of his third mission to Southern Africa since 2002. However, a planned visit to Zimbabwe was cancelled this week.

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