Maputo, 16 Jun (AIM) – The head of the Grant Management Division at the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, Mark Addington, has called for combined efforts between state and non-governmental institutions and communities in order to reduce the HIV infection rate, which remains high in Mozambique.
Addington, who was addressing reporters on Thursday in Maputo after meeting with the Mozambican Prime Minister, Adriano Maleiane, acknowledged that the fight against AIDS has not been easy “but we believe that our organizations, including the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, UNAIDS and the Global Fund, and civil society organizations all working together will certainly achieve the excellent goals in Mozambique.”
“We want to take this opportunity moment to thank the US government for being one of our biggest contributor in the response against HIV; and we have felt very successful in the progress that Mozambique has been implementing”, he said.
During his meeting with Maleiane, Edington said he was moved by the Mozambican government’s commitment to HIV/AIDS prevention.
For his part, the deputy head of the US Mission in Mozambique, Jeremey Neitzke, said that most of the HIV-positive Mozambicans receive benefits from the US government, through the initiatives underway in Mozambique.
Currently, there are about two million Mozambicans living with HIV/AIDS and, according to Neitzke, this is the main focus of US investment.
He pledged that the US will continue to offer its support to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Mozambique.
(AIM)
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