afrol News, 13 June 2002

The Red Cross Red Crescent today announced its beginning partnerships with corporate capital to fight the AIDS pandemic in Africa. In Geneva todqay, Nestle's Chief Executive Officer, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe presented a cheque to the African Red Cross Red Crescent Health Initiative (ARCHI). Nestle will commit three million Swiss francs over three years for a range of projects aimed at addressing urgent public health needs in Africa.

The company's first contribution, a cheque of 500,000 Swiss francs ( 339,000 euro) will primarily be used in Red Cross HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in Nigeria. "The Nigerian Red Cross and the International Federation will target youth in 12 states with a high HIV/AIDS prevalence through more than 2,600 peer educators," the Red Cross today informed.

- Home care support will also be provided to 7,000 people with HIV/AIDS and pre and post virus test counselling given in government health clinics by volunteers, the Red Cross statement added. Nestle adds that 300 volunteers are foreseen to provide counselling.

Nestle Nigeria, with its workforce of 1300, "will closely collaborate with the Nigerian Red Cross in the carrying out of the programme," according to a statement by the Swiss multinational.

Nigeria has seen an explosion in transmission rates of the virus in recent years. More than 2.7 million people are now believed to be carrying the virus in the west African state, the most populous on the continent. The numbers are increasing; just over 5 percent of Nigerians were living with HIV or AIDS at the end of 1999. The prevalence has grown to 5.8 percent, according to the latest estimates (considered "very conservative").

The 339,000 euro donation by Nestle is however a mere drop in the ocean considering the efforts needed to fight HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. The government assesses that Nigeria will need 670 million euro over a three year period to combat the pandemic. Nigeria has already obtained substantial donations from the World Bank and the US development agency (USAID), each giving the sum of 106 million euro for five years. Organisations and foundations additionally have donated an estimated 100 million euro. There still is an estimated funding gap of 256 million euro.
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