World Bank Gives $12.6 Million to Sri Lanka

The World Bank will provide $12.6 million to Sri Lanka to fight HIV and reduce stigma associated with the disease. The World Bank grant will finance a national HIV/AIDS prevention project and support the nation's efforts to reduce the risk of an emerging tuberculosis epidemic. The island nation of 18.6 million people has a "narrow window of opportunity to prevent a nationwide AIDS epidemic," said the World Bank's statement. It commended government efforts to control HIV but said the measures were "not sufficient to prevent the further spread of HIV infection among highly vulnerable" people. Nearly 4,800 people in Sri Lanka have HIV, according to UNAIDS and the World Health Organization.

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