United Nations Radio

African countries are being urged to continue championing HIV prevention as HIV and AIDS will remain an "unprecedented" challenge to sub-Saharan Africa for the foreseeable future.

The call comes in a new World Bank report released today which says that for every African person starting antiretroviral therapy, another four to six become newly infected with HIV.

AIDS is the leading cause of premature death in Africa, especially among young people despite falling HIV infection rates in countries such as Kenya, Botswana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, And more than 22 million Africans are HIV positive.

The report lays out the World Bank's agenda for action on HIV and AIDS for the period up to 2011. During this time, the World Bank says it is committed to providing at least $250 million a year for HIV/AIDS initiatives, based on country demand.

For UN Radio, I'm Dianne Penn.

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