World Bank shifts HIV/AIDS focus in Africa

The World Bank on Wednesday unveiled a four-year strategy to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa that shifts focus from emergency response to long-term development.
The change was made possible after billions of dollars in grant funding became available from the U.S. Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Geneva-based Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria which alone has committed $10.7 billion to fight disease.
The World Bank has sent $1.5 billion to more than 30 African countries to fight HIV/AIDS since 2000.
"With AIDS the largest single cause of premature death in Africa, we can't talk about better, lasting development there without also committing to stay the course in the long-term fight against the disease," said Elizabeth Lule, manager of the World Bank's AIDS Team for Africa.
The World Bank said it would concentrate on advising countries on how best to manage the new international funding, and at the local level try to help governments take a long-term view on how to best tackle the disease.
It plans to help governments integrate HIV/AIDS services with those for pregnant mothers and children and services which fight malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases.
New HIV/AIDS infections in Africa are rising. For every person starting HIV drug treatment, which can keep patients healthy for years and prevent the development of full-blown AIDS, another four to six are newly infected, the World Bank said.
However statistics do indicate falling prevalence in Kenya, parts of Botswana, the Ivory Coast, Malawi and Zimbabwe