Kwezi Osangan,  Assistant to the Deputy Secretary,  World Bank

 Instead of pushing for treatment of  every African--and my office doesn't think that is  possible--let's push to build the roads, communications, health facilities that will help in the long haul.  Let's get support to set up schools and colleges, to train nurses and doctors and med techs.  These actions are permanent long-term benefits to African countries.  Yes, some people should be treated, but the primary emphasis should be on development and on prevention. 

The money should not be spent on cars, helicopters, scooters--these are costly, break down easily, and require additional inputs of fuel.  Better to buy generators than Range Rovers.  We must be careful not to establish public clinics with UN funds, because when the funding ends, the clinics will collapse.  Better to support private hospitals, clinics and doctors:  give equipment that will be useful for many diseases for many years.  

What the UN has done is to help push the AIDS issue in the world.  This is a global scourge--not like malaria which hits only the tropical countries.  The damage done by AIDS means that we can use it to push the world into promoting development in Africa.  Most countries have ignored African countries--they given little assistance.  Mining corporations have extracted wealth, and have hired mercenary armies to support them.  We need economic development--to build capacity. 

 Peter Piot, who heads the UNAID effort made the essential connection between AIDS and poverty and development.  Piot pointed out the need to have "real shifts in resource allocation, effective interventions for behaviour change, improved access to care, and greater distribution of the necessary goods and technologies."  Promoting economic development is the best way to achieve those goals.