UNICEF chief calls  for more Zambia AIDS awareness

 New York, 13 April-(ANA)-Increasing the rates of voluntary testing and improving public awareness about HIV and AIDS are critical to overcoming the pandemic in Zambia, the head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has stressed during a visit to the 

African country.

 Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF,  on a two-day visit to Zambia, 

had earlier travelled to Lesotho, another Southern African country hard-hit 

by HIV/AIDS.

 More than 1 million Zambians are estimated to have died from AIDS-related 

diseases since the 1980s.

 During her visit Ms. Veneman has also visited a camp for about 1,000 internally 

displaced persons (IDPs) who had to flee their homes after recent heavy rains 

and floods. (ANA)

FA/ANA/13 April 2010----------