§ Mr. AlexanderTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department has taken to help prevent the spread of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. [144468]
§ Clare ShortHIV/AIDS is a major development challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. The epidemic is undermining economic growth and fundamentally threatens social and economic development in many countries in the region. DFID gives greatest priority to 355W prevention, but we are also working to reduce the personal, social and economic suffering resulting from the illness and death caused by the disease.
Last year my Department spent over £84 million on bilateral HIV/AIDS related work—the bulk in Africa. As national strategic plans tackle the epidemic improve, we have begun to place our support within the framework of those plans. For example, we have recently approved preparatory work for an additional £20 million to combat HIV/AIDS in Mozambique, and £65 million in Nigeria.