agence france-presse
click here to return to agence france-presse main menu
DonateNow



'AIDS is wiping us out': Tanzanian president

Agence France-Presse - December 1, 2005


DAR ES SALAAM, Dec 1 (AFP) - HIV/AIDS is "wiping out" whole generations in Tanzania, outgoing President Benjamin Mkapa warned his east African country, urging behaviorial changes to stop the spread of the killer disease.

"Let us not joke, AIDS is wiping us out," Mkapa said in a nationally televised address late Wednesday on the eve of World AIDS Day.

"Day after day, parents bury their children instead of children burying their parents," he said.

"In many cases, we see energetic parents falling sick, diminishing family resources and finally leaving behind orphans with nothing to rely on," Mkapa said, calling on Tanzanians to be vigilant in the fight against AIDS.

At least seven percent of adults in the country -- about 2 million people -- are infected with HIV, according to Tanzania Commission for AIDS, which says at least two million others have died from AIDS since 1983.

051201
AF051216


Copyright ©AFP 2005. All Rights Reserved. AFP articles contained on the AEGiS web site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without AFP's prior written permission. You may make one copy of each article for your personal, non-commercial use only; more copies would require AFP's prior written permission. obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP photos or materials. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP stories, photos or graphics.  http://www.afp.com/

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2005. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

©1990, 2005 - AEGiS. AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.