MADAGASCAR: Govt gets tough on AIDS graft

Madagascar got tough on graft this week by suspending funding to 200 local NGOs set up to tackle HIV/AIDS in the Indian Ocean island.

Executive Secretary of the National AIDS Committee Fenosoa Ratsimanetrimanana accused local charities of freely spending World Bank money without accounting for it.

"Lots of associations are rushing to the campaign against AIDS to get a piece of the money. Some destroy their HIV detection equipment after three months so they can profit from buying it anew," Reuters quoted him as saying.

Madagascar, with an estimated HIV prevalence rate of just 1.1 percent, has become the latest in a string of African countries to experience the consequences of financial mismanagement and lack of transparency.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews,

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