MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Australia will provide $12 million over three years to improve the lives of children orphaned by AIDS.
The Australian Government will join with other international donors to give some five million children better access to education and health care though the UNICEF Children and AIDS Regional Initiative in Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.
Many of the children in these countries have lost a parent to AIDS, forcing them to become the head of the household, unable to attend school because they are caring for a sick parent, or supporting their families.
UNICEF estimates that by 2010 around 20 million children across sub-Saharan Africa will have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
The funding, through Australia's international aid agency, AusAID will support community and government organisations that deliver health and education services to children.
The UNICEF program will also help the governments of Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique improve protection services for children by training more community protection workers and supporting legal and policy reform.
Australia will provide over $82 million in aid to Africa in 2006-07.
Media contact:
Tony Parkinson (Minister's Office) 0409 536 410
AusAID (Public Affairs) 0417 680 590