HC Deb 14 March 1988 vol 129 cc857-8
60. Mr. Hayward

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for supporting the World Health Organisation's programmes for AIDS prevention in African countries.

Mr. Chris Patten

Subject to parliamentary approval, we shall contribute £4.5 million this year to the central budget of the World Health Organisation's global programme on AIDS, which is currently working with 44 countries in Africa. In addition, we have so far agreed to provide £3.6 million over five years, through the World Health Organisation, for national AIDS control programmes in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Mr. Hayward

Has my hon. Friend any intention of giving further assistance to Africa, particularly to developing countries in Africa, during the next financial year or in future?

Mr. Patten

Yes, we certainly intend to make further contributions to national programmes in African countries. For example, I hope that we will shortly be able to announce a reasonably substantial contribution towards the programme in Zambia. As my hon. Friend may know, at the moment we are the third largest contributor to the WHO global programme on AIDS. I hope that we shall continue to make a major contribution to that important programme.

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