More food for people with HIV/AIDS.

29 Aug, 2006

The Addis Ababa HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (AA HAPCO) has signed a nine million dollar agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and around 60 local non-governmental organisations and health providers to increase food assistance to people infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. The accord represents an expansion of WFPs existing urban HIV/AIDS programme in Ethiopia. Beneficiaries include HIV positive people who are on life-prolonging anti-retroviral therapy, AIDS orphans and vulnerable children, and mothers and infants participating in prevention of mother-to-child transmission programmes in 14 towns and cities across the country, including Addis Ababa.

Two million out of Ethiopias 77 million people are believed to be living with HIV/AIDS with a higher prevalence rate in urban than in rural areas. The agreement is valid until December 2007.