World Bank Approves $20 Million International Development Association Credit for Ghana to Help Fight HIV/AIDS

The World Bank on Wednesday announced its approval of an International Development Association credit of $20 million to help the government of Ghana fight HIV/AIDS, Xinhua News Agency reports (Xinhua News Agency, 11/16). The credit will be used to improve the country's multisectoral HIV/AIDS program, which is being funded in response to the Ghana AIDS Response Fund, a project also financed by IDA, the Angola Press reports. The credit aims to keep HIV incidence at current levels among high-risk populations and reduce the number of new cases among the general population, the World Bank said (Angola Press, 11/17). The credit also aims to help alleviate the social, cultural, legal and economic effects of HIV/AIDS in the country; increase awareness of the disease; provide treatment and counseling programs; and help mobilize resources and funding. "The continued participation of the bank in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Ghana is critical in achieving Ghana's objectives of reducing new HIV/AIDS/STI transmission and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS-related morbidity and mortality," Laura Rose, the World Bank task team leader of the project, said, adding, "Preventive efforts need to be continued and scaled up in order to force a reversal in the spread of the pandemic in the country" (World Bank release, 11/15).

Back to other news for November 17, 2005