Canada commends fight against HIV/AIDS

Accra, Nov. 30, GNA - Canada on Tuesday commended the efforts of the Government and people of Ghana in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS and pledged its support in the war against the dreaded disease. "We are committed to helping Ghana and Africa in this important struggle to save lives," the Canadian High Commissioner in Ghana, Mr Donald Bobiash said in a message to mark World AIDS Day, which falls on Wednesday.

He said Canada had supported Ghana in the fight against the dreaded disease through innovative programmes funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and HIV/AIDS considerations were part of every project proposal considered by the Agency.

Mr Bobiash said in addition, the West African AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease Project funded by Canada and implemented in Ghana, was devoted to helping to arrest the spread of HIV. Further, Canadian doctors and experts in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, were also working in Ghana.

In May, Canada announced a contribution of 100 million dollars to the World Health Organisation to provide ant-retroviral treatment to three million people living with AIDS by the end of 2005.

At the same time, Canada announced a doubling of its annual contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria to 70 million dollars per year.