Gates Foundation to give $50m to China's AIDS fight

China's efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS have received a major boost following the announcement of a major donation.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to commit $50 million (£25 million) to work in partnership with the Chinese government and non-governmental organisations to increase HIV prevention in the country.

As part of the commitment the money will aim to increase access to HIV prevention and treatment for those most likely to become infected with the disease, such as injection drug users and sex workers.

Dr Tachi Yamada, president of the Gates Foundation's Global Health Program, said: "By rapidly expanding access to effective HIV prevention, China has an opportunity to prevent a widespread HIV/AIDS epidemic.

"China's leaders say they are serious about fighting AIDS, and we're pleased to partner with them on these efforts," he added.

Figures from the World Health Organization indicated that there were an estimated 650,000 people in China living with HIV/AIDS in 2005, with the disease causing an estimated 31,000 deaths that year.

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