MALAWI: AIDS drugs for thousands by 2005

The government of Malawi has pledged to provide free anti-AIDS treatment to some 50,000 people by 2005 with new funding from the Global AIDS Fund.

However, Vice President Justin Malewezi was quoted by the Associated Press agency as saying: "This programme can only work if we defeat the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS so that more and more Malawians enrol in voluntary counselling and testing programmes."

Research shows that only 3 percent of Malawians have been tested for HIV despite some 70,000 lives being claimed by AIDS-related illnesses each year.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, Children,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]