WHO Reaffirms Commitment to AIDS Fight

At least two million lives could be saved by 2015 if the World Health Organisation's 193 member-states achieve stated goals in the fight against AIDS, the global body said Tuesday.

At the WHO's 64th general assembly, member-states reaffirmed their desire to increase access to prevention options and treatment.

"Two millions lives could be saved between now and 2015 if the strategy plan is fully implemented," said Andrew Ball, an official with the WHO's HIV/AIDS programme.

The assembly adopts a new strategy to curb HIV/AIDS every five years.

The policy agreed Tuesday is similar to a 2006-2010 plan in emphasising increased access to treatment, prevention, and reducing deaths among mothers and children.

It aims to halve the infection rate among people aged 15 to 24, a 90 per cent reduction of infections among children, and a 25 per cent cut in HIV-related deaths.

There are 33.3 million people living with HIV, including 22.5 million in sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNAIDS.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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