U.S. Gives Funds to Zambia to Fight AIDS

During a recent ceremony in Lusaka, Ambassador Mark Storella announced a new US commitment to fight HIV/AIDS in Zambia. The United States has contributed about $1 billion to Zambia's AIDS-fighting efforts in the past six years, he said. "As a result of this partnership and shared vision, the US government contribution for next year totals $276 million from 2011 to 2015." Some foreign donors have withheld aid from Zambia since last year, when the nation's health sector was caught up in financial scandals. Storella, however, said he was satisfied with the steps taken to correct abuses. "It was not the donors that instituted the investigations but the government, which is a good step," he said. Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao lauded Washington's willingness to continue helping Zambia despite the corruption charges and the global recession.

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