US envoy urges intensification of anti-AIDS fight in Africa

Lusaka- Zambia (PANA) -- Visiting US Global AIDS Coordinator, Mark Dybul, here Wednesday, called for increased awareness and intensification of the fight against the incurable disease in Africa.
While acknowledging that a country like Zambia had made remarkable progress in the fight, he said sub-Saharan Africa as a region required more efforts in care, mitigation, treatment, and stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS.
"We need to do more to alleviate the suffering of the people," said Dybul, after touring an HIV/AIDS laboratory at MAINA SOKO Military Hospital in the Zambian capital.
The Hospital, which serves both civilians and the military, is supported by the US Department of Defence (DOD) and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
DOD built the laboratory structure while CDC equipped the facility.
Dybul said Zambia had benefited US$570 million from President George W Bush's HIV/AIDS Emergency Relief Funds for Africa.
According to Maina Soko Military Hospital Deputy Commandant, Fridah Kazembe, some 1,000 soldiers are on antiretroviral treatment at the facility.
"Without the support which we have received so far from the United States Government we would not have gone so far in the treatment of our people," she added.