WASHINGTON, May 17 (AFP) - Retiring World Bank President James Wolfensohn Tuesday bemoaned the world's "late" awakening to the threat from AIDS, as the organisation warned the disease was reaping a heavy toll among young girls.
Even as anti-AIDS experts praised him for breaking global silence on AIDS and HIV, Wolfensohn lamented he had been unable to convince world leaders and international institutions to act faster in the early days of the pandemic.
"I think we were late. I knew about AIDS a long time ago," Wolfensohn told a special tribute meeting after the World Bank unveiled a new strategy for tackling HIV/AIDS.
Wolfensohn, 71, who will be succeeded by US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz on June 1, said he was disappointed in his own role in convincing governments to act early in the crisis.
"Somehow the penny hadn't dropped, that this was something that was at the whole core of human development ... this was a human tragedy, and it could be averted and it could be treated," he said.
Though the World Bank was now at the forefront of global AIDS efforts, committing 1.8 billion dollars in grants, loans and credits to the issue in the last five years, Wolfensohn said it still had work to do.
"I don't think even our institution is where it should be, on the question of AIDS.
"I think we have made a good start, but you shouldn't congratulate me too much. I take some credit for having got us across the starting line."
Before bidding goodbye to Wolfensohn, the bank on Tuesday rolled out a new "Global HIV/AIDS Plan of Action," warning that young girls in developing nations were particularly at risk.
Girls aged 15-19 are often either forced into sexual relationships or coerced through money, gifts and favours, the Program of Action said.
"For many young women, marriage does not provide protection either, as young brides often lack the power to negotiate safe sex practices."
In hardest hit regions, "for every boy, five or six girls are infected," the report said.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 57 percent of people with HIV and AIDS are women, in Russia, the proportion of women among new infections went from 24 percent in 2001 to 38 percent in 2003.
The bank's director of global HIV/AIDS programs, Debrework Zewdie, warned "stigma, discrimination and denial" were still thwarting the battle against AIDS.
The blueprint seeks to answer why, despite scientific advances and billions of dollars of aid programs, more people will be infected with HIV and die of AIDS in 2005 than in any previous year.
Wolfensohn's humble response, came after a parade of leading anti-AIDS officials paid warm tribute to his role.
"You are now one of the world's prime activists on AIDS with access like no one else," said Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS.
Augustine Chella, a Zambian AIDS activist infected with HIV, travelled to pay personal tribute to Wolfensohn.
"Under the leadership of president Wolfensohn, the bank broke the global silence over HIV/AIDS. There was a silence because humanity could not bear too much reality at that time.
"You are indeed a true friend of the poor and marginalised communities."
Born in Australia before becoming a US citizen, Wolfensohn arrived at the World Bank from Wall Street after a high-level career as an investment banker, including stints at Salomon Brothers in New York and Schroeder's in London.
Leading figures of the global anti-AIDS battle credit Wolfensohn with a major role in cutting the prices of generic AIDS medicines to bring them within reach of developing nations and their patients.
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