Irene Lôbo
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília – Brazil remains firm in the defense of its AIDS combating policy. This will be the country’s position when it assumes for one year, next July, the presidency of the Executive Council of UNAIDS, the United Nations organization responsible for anti-AIDS programs.

The Minister of Health, Humberto Costa, said this Tuesday (17) that Brazil will be impartial regarding international policies, but that it must be loyal to its internal strategy. Costa is in Geneva participating on the 58th World Health Assembly.

"Brazil obtained good results related to the combat and control of AIDS in the country, because it opposed to philosophical, religious, or moral preconceptions," said the minister.

Brazil’s UNAIDS presidency occurs after its refusal in accepting a US$48 million subsidy from the North American agency to help in AIDS combat. The reason: the country did not give up the rights of prostitutes to participate on Brazilian programs to control the disease. The decision was praised by the international community.

Translation: Andréa Alves