DRC: Much-needed AIDS funding under preparation

The World Bank is currently preparing a US $100 million grant to help the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) tackle HIV/AIDS.

Jean-Charles Kra, a DRC representative for the Bank, said negotiations with the government could take place at the beginning of 2004.

Kra told the UN news service PlusNews: "At present we are finalising the dossier."

Research by the country's national AIDS organisation, the Programme national de lutte contre le sida (PNLS), suggests that HIV/AIDS could affect more than 25 million people within 10 years.

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

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