America pledges $ 30 million to help malawi fight AIDS
International, 7/9/2000

The United States has pledged to support Malawi's fight against the scourge of HIV/AIDS with 30 million dollars.

Ellen Shippy, the US ambassador to Malawi, said the assistance is in line with US President Bill Clinton's 1999 LIFE initiative, which singles out HIV/AIDS support to 15 developing countries around the world.

"The United States will continue to support efforts in Malawi to prevent new infections and those already infected," Shippy said.

The American initiative comes fast on the heels of another pledge by UN agencies and donors who, three months ago, said they would set aside 110 million dollars to assist Malawi's five-year HIV/AIDS strategic plan.

The HIV/AIDS scourge has devastated Malawi, like most sub-Saharan African states.

According to the World Bank, the scourge has wiped out most socio-economic gains the country achieved since independence from Great Britain 36 years.

For instance, life expectancy has fallen from 47 years in the mid-1980s to 36 years largely due to HIV/AIDS.

Average per capita income for Malawi's 10 million people has also been slashed from 220 dollars to lees than 200 dollars.

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