AEGiS-AFP News: AIDS-Africa-corruption: AIDS drugs money diverted, wasted in Africa : World bank

AIDS-Africa-corruption: AIDS drugs money diverted, wasted in Africa : World bank

Agence France-Presse - September 13, 1999

LUSAKA, Sept 13 (AFP) - A World bank representative has admitted to corruption by some African countries in the use of funds meant for AIDS drugs.

"Yes there is a problem," Callisto Madavo, World Bank deputy president for Africa region said on Monday when asked of reports that only about 12 out of every 100 US dollars supposed to be used on drugs actually gets spent on them.

"Too much money is being wasted and too much money is being diverted.

"Corruption is a major, major issue that African governments have simply got to address," Madavo told a press conference.

Admitting the problem was not only common in procurement of anti-AIDS drugs, Madavo said: "We need to be very aggressive. We simply need to root out this cancer".

African governments have, however, in recent years acknowledged corruption in their midst and are seeking means to end it.

"A good number of African leaders are coming to the World Bank asking for assistance in putting together programmes that will assist them in tackling corruption," Madavo said.

Madavo said 60 percent of World bank loans to African governments were going towards purchasing drugs to treat HIV/AIDS-related infections.

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