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| Africa's Aids epidemic 'slowing' | Africa's Aids epidemic 'slowing' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The spread of Aids is slowing down in some parts of Africa, a World Bank report has suggested. | |
| Urban areas in Rwanda, Zambia and Ethiopia were singled out as places where infection rates were lowering. | Urban areas in Rwanda, Zambia and Ethiopia were singled out as places where infection rates were lowering. |
| The World Bank's Miriam Schneidman told the BBC that Rwanda had done an "exceptional job" in recognising the HIV problem and taking strong action. | The World Bank's Miriam Schneidman told the BBC that Rwanda had done an "exceptional job" in recognising the HIV problem and taking strong action. |
| Figures from the World Bank put the prevalence of Aids in Rwanda at about 3%, down from 11% seven years ago. | Figures from the World Bank put the prevalence of Aids in Rwanda at about 3%, down from 11% seven years ago. |
| "The mobilisation of empowered 'grassroots' communities, along with delivering condoms and life-saving treatments, are beginning to slow the pace of the ... epidemic," the report said, without giving detailed statistics. | "The mobilisation of empowered 'grassroots' communities, along with delivering condoms and life-saving treatments, are beginning to slow the pace of the ... epidemic," the report said, without giving detailed statistics. |
| But it says southern Africa remains the epicentre of the epidemic. | But it says southern Africa remains the epicentre of the epidemic. |
| In Francistown, a city in Botswana bordering Zimbabwe, 70% of women in their early 30s were found to be HIV-positive, according to a 2004 household survey. | In Francistown, a city in Botswana bordering Zimbabwe, 70% of women in their early 30s were found to be HIV-positive, according to a 2004 household survey. |
| Aids stole into Africa like a thief in the night World Bank's Joy Phumaphi | Aids stole into Africa like a thief in the night World Bank's Joy Phumaphi |
| Last year, the epidemic killed more than 2m people in Africa. | Last year, the epidemic killed more than 2m people in Africa. |
| Rwanda's success is put down to understanding the seriousness of the problem early on and taking quick action. | Rwanda's success is put down to understanding the seriousness of the problem early on and taking quick action. |
| "Prevention messages, early testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission - it's been this holistic approach that we think has really provided the strong results that we're seeing," Ms Schneidman told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "Prevention messages, early testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission - it's been this holistic approach that we think has really provided the strong results that we're seeing," Ms Schneidman told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
| The epidemic shows signs of slowing in Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, and in urban Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, and Zambia, the report says. | The epidemic shows signs of slowing in Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, and in urban Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, and Zambia, the report says. |
| In East Africa, the picture is mixed with significant numbers of new infections originating in the commercial sex trade, it says. | In East Africa, the picture is mixed with significant numbers of new infections originating in the commercial sex trade, it says. |
| "Aids stole into Africa like a thief in the night, and all these years later, we still must stay vigilant against this terrible disease," Joy Phumaphi, of the World Bank's Human Development Network, a former health minister of Botswana. | "Aids stole into Africa like a thief in the night, and all these years later, we still must stay vigilant against this terrible disease," Joy Phumaphi, of the World Bank's Human Development Network, a former health minister of Botswana. |
| "Even when it seems that infections are starting to fall and more and more people are being saved with treatment." | "Even when it seems that infections are starting to fall and more and more people are being saved with treatment." |