Tragically, mass killers are nothing new in Africa. Malaria still claims
about as many African lives as AIDS, and preventable childhood diseases
kill millions of others. What sets AIDS apart, however, is its
unprecedented impact on regional development. Because it kills so many
adults in the prime of their working and parenting lives, it decimates
the workforce, fractures and impoverishes families, orphans millions,
and shreds the fabric of communities. The costs it imposes force
countries to make heartbreaking choices between today's and future
lives, and between health and dozens of other vital investments for
development. Given these realities, African governments and their
partners must act now to prevent further HIV infections and to care for
and support the millions of Africans already infected and affected. As
part of the World Bank's effort to play a stronger role, the first part
of this publication introduces the Bank's new strategy to combat the
epidemic in partnership with African governments and the Joint United
Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The second part documents the
growing epidemic, its impact on various sectors, and the imperative of
urgent action. Additional sections define building blocks for an
effective response, delineate the strategic plan for intensifying the
actions against AIDS in Africa, discuss the implementation of the
suggested measures, and outline further steps that will be necessary
after the strategies have been inculcated.
