United Nations Radio

The UN agency leading the fight against HIV/AIDS - UNAIDS projects that AIDS resource needs for sub-Saharan Africa will stand at about 7 and a half billion dollars in 2010 if current rates of scaling up service are to continue.

The head of UNAIDS, Peter Piot, says it is clear that most countries will depend on external funding support for many years to come since such costs cannot be carried along by the budgets of low-income countries in Africa:

"There is, on the one hand, much good news coming out of Africa when it comes to the fight against AIDS. There are results today, but we still a long way to go. And it's now time to think about sustainability of the efforts, of taking on the long-term challenges in terms of governance, in terms of finance, in terms of impact..."

Dr. Piot made his comments during the launch of the report by the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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