THE US government has set aside an economic assistance budget of $711,3-million for Africa in 1999, a large chunk of which goes to the promotion of family planning and protection of human health. A breakdown of the 1999 budget for Africa by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) shows that $253-million has been allocated to family planning and health. The amount is to help in family planning, strengthen health delivery systems and expand immunisation and oral rehydration therapy coverage, the agency said. Part of the budget also goes to promote awareness campaigns against HIV/Aids. US assistance for humanitarian food assistance to Africa amounts to $209,5-million, while support for economic development is approximately $203,7-million.