Ethiopian gov't undertaking 59.7 mln. U.S dollars anti-HIV/AIDS program

Addis Ababa, August 13 (ENA) ---The Ethiopian government was undertaking a multi-sectoral anti-HIV/AIDS program across the country with an outlay of 59.7 million U.S dollars, the National AIDS Council secretariat said.

  Dr. Dagnachew Hailemariam said in annual report that the fund obtained from the World Bank would be utilized for three years including the current year.

  Dr. Dagnachew said 14.1 million U.S dollars has been earmarked for this year alone.

  The World Bank has agreed to release additional loan upon confirming that the already discharged fund has been utilized properly for the intended purpose, he said.

  Various international organizations were supporting the government's efforts deployed to halt the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the secretariat said.

  He said the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has recently donated 27 million Birr in support of the National and Regional AIDS Secretariats.

  Over 2.6 million people in Ethiopia were believed to be living with the virus that causes AIDS, Dr. Dagnachew said.

  He said it is estimated that there were 450,000 AIDS patients and 750,000 AIDS orphaned children in the country.

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