JEDDAH: The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) group and the United Nations program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration efforts on a range of AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The MoU was signed between IDB group President Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali and UN/AIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. Under the document, the two sides shall cooperate in maximum use of available resources while effectively cooperating and sharing information on HIV prevention and control measures. The program also pays special attention to measures aimed at preventing HIV from mother to child as UN estimates indicate an estimated 1.4 million HIV positive pregnant women live in low-and middle-income countries. In 2009 alone, the UN figures registered some 370,000.00 new HIV infections among children worldwide. At the signing ceremony, president of the IDB Group Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali underlined the emphasis IDB Group has attached to promotion of health services and the support it has lent to development of health sector activities and hygiene infrastructure since its inception more than 3 decades ago The IDB investment in promoting the global fight against AIDS is timely.
