Brasília, 7/22/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Health, Humberto Costa, says that he intends to expand government action against AIDS so that by 2006 fully 91% of all cases in Brazil will be under control. Costa says the effort will cost some R$100 million annually.

According to the ministry, at the moment there are around 600,000 cases of HIV/AIDS in Brazil. Last year there were 10,000 deaths from the disease in the country. Costa says the government aims to reduce AIDS mortality by 15%. One treatment plan will ensure that children of HIV positive mothers (estimated at 17,000) do not get the disease. Meanwhile, safe sex campaign distribution and sale of condoms will rise from 550 million annually, to 1.2 billion. The minster explained that in a partnership effort with the Ministry of Education, condoms will be made available for students age 14 and older. (AB)