BONO IN OBAMA'S AIDS EVENT

U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Thursday a new financial effort to fight AIDS in the United States and worldwide, at an event in Washington to mark the World Day to Combat AIDS.

"We can beat this disease," Obama said during the event, which was also attended by former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, beyond the U2 singer, Bono and Alicia Keys.

About 1.2 million Americans living with HIV and two thirds of these are not treatment for the disease, according to official report released this week.

According to the latest UN figures, about 34 million people worldwide were infected with HIV in 2010 and 1.8 million people died. The figure was below the 2.2 million deaths in 2005.

Obama said the U.S. intends to help 6 million people around the world to treat the disease by the end of 2013. "There are two million people more than the initial goal," Obama said.

In the U.S., $ 50 million of public funds will be allocated to fight the pandemic: U.S. $ 15 million should go to a federal program of support for people infected, and $ 35 million should be reversed to facilitate access to antiretroviral drugs.

Source: AFP