Aids Plan Seeks to Halve Infection Rate in Five Years

South Africa used World Aids Day yesterday to launch a five-year plan to combat the disease that will focus on cutting the number of new infections by half and getting drugs to 80% of those in need by 2011.

Particular attention will be paid to educating young people on how to avoid infection. About 5.5 million South Africans, one in 11 of the population, are infected with HIV.

The plan was announced by the deputy president, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who has taken charge of the Aids programme after years in which President Thabo Mbeki questioned whether HIV causes Aids.