World Bank Commits $1 Billion to Fight AIDS in Africa

Callisto Madavo, the World Bank's vice president for Africa, announced Sunday in Johannesburg that the bank has committed $1 billion to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. Much of the support will be in the form of grants. African countries have previously complained that World Bank support was in the form of credits, and states hit hard by HIV/AIDS were far too poor to afford loans.

"We have significantly upped our commitment to fighting AIDS in Africa. I have approval to commit $1 billion" Madavo said. "From July this year, support has been in the form of grants. Countries that got loans earlier are putting in new requests, such as Kenya and Ethiopia, will receive grants. What we are preaching is a greater focus on implementation of programs to combat HIV/AIDS. We want implementation strengthened," he said, adding that the World Bank was working with grassroots communities and non-governmental organizations to fight AIDS on the continent.

The good news from Africa, Modavo said, was that most nations were waking up to the epidemic and seeking ways to combat it. In countries that had been reluctant to fight AIDS, peer pressure was forcing a radical change, he said. "We still have some countries dancing around the issue of AIDS, but peer pressure is being brought to bear on them. There are leaders like [Ugandan] President [Yoweri] Museveni asking their colleagues what they are doing to fight AIDS, and Africa is rising to the challenge," he said. Partly with World Bank support, the fight against AIDS was finally gathering pace in Ethiopia and Kenya, he said.

AIDS is decimating African professionals faster than replacements can be trained, and millions of dollars are required by each country for AIDS prevention and awareness campaigns as well as to improve health care, analysts say.

Back to other CDC news for October 21, 2002

Previous Updates