New AIDS drugs plan for Africa

An American company says it is creating a fund worth two-hundred-and-fifty million dollars to buy drugs for treating AIDS and distribute them in Africa free of charge.

The company, Phyto-Riker, says it has the backing of the United States Export-Import Bank and the government of Ghana.

The president of the company, Kennon Brennen, told Reuters news agency that he realized the African governments could not pay for the medicines at any price.

He said he hoped to buy anti-HIV drugs at a discount from other companies, for handing over to African governments, which would then distribute them to selected clinics.

Mr Brennen said that besides Ghana, there had been strong interest by Kenya, Uganda, Senegal and Zimbabwe.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service