NAIROBI, Dec 3 (AFP) - US Secretary for Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson on Wednesday called on large companies to join the assault on AIDS in Africa at the launch of Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBC-HIV/AIDS).
Speaking in the Kenyan capital, Thompson said the partnership, which has incorporated about 120 companies worldwide, was set up by former US envoy to the UN Richard Hoolbroke at the request of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to boost the war against HIV/AIDS.
"This is a partnership that we have not done enough to incorporate the business community, we need everybody to join with us in this fight, a fight and a war that we cannot afford to loose," said Thompson, who is on a five-nation African tour aimed at boosting the war against AIDS.
"The continent of Africa has been ravaged for far too long by this HIV virus scourge. Millions of people have died and millions of children have been left as orphans," he said.
Thompson challenged the companies to be dedicated to "carry on this fight each and every day until we finally overcome and start reversing the ravages and the scourge that this disease is causing."
Holbroke, who is also President of GBC-HIV/AIDS said: "Businesses have a vital role to play in the war against AIDS. Most companies are not yet doing what they should be doing."
In January, Bush announced a five-year, 15-billion-dollar funding plan to fight the deadly disease in Africa.
In a report published last week, UNAIDS said Africa south of the Sahara is the region most affected by the pandemic, where some 26.6 million people were stricken in 2003 by the HIV virus that causes AIDS, more than half of the 40 million worldwide.
The continent has 11 million AIDS orphans, about four-fifths of the world's AIDS orphans.
"This fight against HIV/AIDS from United States, headed for our brothers and sisters in Africa is bi-partisan, -- Rebublicans and Democrats -- working hand in hand for the ultimate success of defeating this virus," he said.
Thompson, who was accompanied by leaders of nine large firms, said the GBC-HIV/AIDS member firms were "going to pledge resources ... to be able offer assistance, not only to their employees, but community at large, to be able to fight AIDS where those communities are located."
He challenged host countries to join forces with companies and apply for money from the UN Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria in order to buy anti-retrovial drugs for AIDS patients.
Richard Feachem, the executive director of Global Fund, said of the parnership: "This is a win-win situation in relation to the companies, the countries and the goals for which the Global Fund was established."
UNAIDS chief Peter Piot said there was wholesome commitment in the world, as exemplified by the business community, to fight the scourge.
"Finally the world has taken the fight against AIDS seriously," he told the launching ceremony.
"There is hope, there is political commitment everywhere in the world," Piot added.
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