Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / UK
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

Thursday, 12 October 2006, 23:10 GMT 00:10 UK

£20m for Zimbabwe Aids programme

A graveyard for Aids victims in Zimbabwe Britain has awarded £20 million to a programme aimed at fighting Zimbabwe's HIV and Aids epidemic.

The cash will be used to provide testing and counselling services and encourage safe sex, the Department for International Development said.

The scheme will distribute more than 250 million condoms, including female ones, through 700 hair salons.

Zimbabwe has one of the highest HIV rates in the world, with one in five adults infected.

The funding is being given to Population Services International, a US-based non-governmental organisation which will run the five-year programme.

"People should not die because they have sex"
Hilary Benn
International Development Secretary


The scheme will be co-funded by the US Agency for International Development.

It is hoped more than a million Zimbabweans who are unaware they are HIV positive will be helped by the scheme.

A national campaign will also be launched aimed at breaking down the stigma around Aids.

It will include workers visiting villages around the country to educate residents using games and music.

HIV rate falling

International Development Secretary Hilary Benn said: "People should not die because they have sex.

"By giving them the knowledge and the means to protect themselves we can save many lives.

"That's why we're helping to make HIV prevention services more accessible to more people.

"There has been progress in Zimbabwe over the last few years, with the HIV rate falling, particularly amongst vulnerable young women.

"By continuing to get the right message across we can build towards our goal of an Aids-free generation."



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Zimbabwe 'fuelling HIV spread' (28 Jul 06 |  Africa )
HIV-positive Zimbabweans find love (26 Jul 06 |  Africa )
Why a Zimbabwean abstains from sex (30 May 06 |  Africa )
Zimbabwe faces Aids drug shortage (03 May 06 |  Africa )
Zimbabweans have 'shortest lives' (08 Apr 06 |  Africa )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Department for International Development
Population Services International
US Agency for International Development
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©