U.S. to raise private funds for Africa AIDS fight

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. President George Bush will discuss global efforts to combat AIDS with the U.N. Secretary General and the president of Nigeria Friday, as the American administration courts private contributors in an effort to double the $200 million federal commitment to an international AIDS fund.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and Secretary of State Colin Powell are slated to join the president and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan for the White House meeting Friday. Powell travels to Africa later this month and a major issue in his discussions with the continent's leaders will be the devastating effects of the AIDS crisis.

Annan has proposed building up a global war chest to fight AIDS in Africa, hoping to raise between $7 billion and $10 billion.

The U.S. government estimates more than 23 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

The $200 million U.S. contribution to the global AIDS fund is allocated in this year's budget. The administration is trying to raise an additional $200 million from foundations and wealthy individuals, government officials told CNN Wednesday.

The AIDS meeting will take place Friday prior to a bilateral meeting with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Clinton urges U.S. to back AIDS fund
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Africa seeks AIDS war chest
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OAU chief calls for action at AIDS summit
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Annan issues global AIDS fund plea
April 26, 2001

UNAIDS The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS

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