WHO Steps Up Battle Against AIDS

22 May 2004 -- Members states of the World Health Organization unanimously approved measures today to increase efforts to control HIV/AIDS in poor countries and to supply them with quality anti-AIDS drugs.

They issued a resolution urging countries to give more support to health services and strengthen the delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care. It advocates easing the acquisition by poor countries of cheaper, WHO-approved versions of expensive anti-AIDS therapies.

The WHO says some 6 million AIDS sufferers worldwide -- most of them in developing countries -- are in urgent need of treatment.

(AFP)