AIDS Kills Hundreds in Latin America Daily
The UN program against AIDS (ONUSIDA) called on Latin American governments Friday for a more committed leadership in the struggle against the disease, which causes 300 deaths in the region everyday.

"The society is becoming aware of the seriousness of the virus, but the most important thing is that presidents assume leadership in fighting it," said Peter Piot, executive director of ONUSIDA.

Central American presidents met Friday in the capital of El Salvador to find new strategies to fight the virus, suffered by more than two million people in Latin American and the Caribbean.

Presidential sources confirmed the attendance of the Costa Rican, Guatemalan and Salvadorian heads of States. Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua and Belize will be represented by their vice presidents or health ministers.

The meeting will conclude with the launching of a world campaign on childhood, youth and AIDS in the region sponsored by UNICEF.

UNICEF's objective is to create state programs to prevent infection from mothers to their babies, providing pediatric treatment and fighting the spread of the virus in teens.

UN statistics reveal that over 1,800 infections take place in the world everyday among children and teenagers under 15, while more than 1,400 die daily due to diseases related to this virus.

International institutions such as the World Health Organization, consider that Latin America and the Caribbean must make great political and cultural efforts not to suffer Africa's critical current situation.