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U.N.: Zambia makes AIDS treatment free

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The U.N. Special Envoy to Zambia says the southerly African country's HIV/AIDS program will now provide free antiretroviral treatment to all Zambian citizens.

New funds from The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have enabled the government to extend its free treatment program to all parts of the country, instead of just parts of the capital, Lusaka.

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"Everywhere I went, people were clamoring for free treatment, and the government decided to provide it," said the envoy, Stephen Lewis. He added that the government itself has shown commendable efforts in meeting its HIV/AIDS program goals.

Despite the progress, however, problems relating to the program persist, including the disproportionate infection of women with the disease and insufficient care of infected orphans and children, he said.

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