/ 10 September 2010

Activists in Africa seek govt funds to fight Aids

African doctors and rights activists are pressing their governments to spend more on health as part of a campaign to stop children from getting Aids.

Graca Machel, a long-time advocate for children, is leading the campaign along with paediatricians and other experts from across the continent.

Machel told reporters on Friday that African governments need to meet pledges made in 2001 to devote at least 15% of national budgets to health. Campaign leaders say foreigners cannot be expected to help if Africans don’t help themselves.

Machel, the wife of Nelson Mandela, says she will be lobbying African leaders. — Sapa-AP