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World Bank Approves $8M Grant To Combat
HIV/AIDS in Central America
The World Bank on Tuesday announced that it has approved a us$8 million
grant to combat HIV/AIDS in the Central American nations of Costa
Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, the
State Department's Washington File reports.
The grant aims to support the region's ability to address the pandemic
through "critical actions ... beyond the capability of individual
countries," including increasing access to antiretroviral drugs,
laboratory tests, medical supplies, and HIV testing, counseling and
treatment, according to Washington File.
The grant also will establish a regional laboratory to conduct
specialized testing for HIV and opportunistic infections, such as
tuberculosis. The lab also will serve as a quality-control and training
center for the region.
In addition, the funds will be used to develop an epidemiological
surveillance system to collect and distribute HIV/AIDS information in
the region based on surveys involving at-risk groups, including
commercial sex workers, mobile populations and several ethnic groups.
"HIV/AIDS is an increasingly critical health issue in Central America,
which if unchecked has the potential to erode human welfare,
socio-economic progress, productivity and social cohesion,"
Jane Armitage, World Bank country director for Central America, said,
adding, "This project builds on the strengths of regional cooperation in
Central America on health issues by improving access to and equity of
services for vulnerable groups".
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