Cologne/Menongue. With a new project, Malteser International fights the spread of the HIV/AIDS-pandemic in Angola. The programme focuses on adults and children. According to the UN, two million children under the age of 15 suffer from HIV/AIDS. Many of them have been infected by their mothers due to the fact that the transmission-risk from mother to child in Africa is 25 to 45 percent. In Germany, the risk only amounts one to two percent. That is the reason why one of the aims of the new Malteser International programme is systematic education, survey and treatment of HIV-positive mothers. 'In most of the cases, the transmission from mother to child happens in the time of pregnancy, while the baby is born or while the mother is breastfeeding. Therefore, as many pregnant women as possible should have an HIV/AIDS-test and then get the adequate drugs that are able to reduce the risk of transmission by 50 percent', says Dr. Georg Nothelle, Head of the Malteser International Africa Department. Another important aim of the programme besides the HIV/AIDS-prevention is the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) because of the numerous co-infections. m of the programme besides the HIV/AIDS-prevention is the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) because of the numerous co-infections.

By the aid of educational campaigns in schools, churches and communities, Malteser International contributes to reduce the number of HIV-infections. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) estimates that about four percent of the people in Angola are HIV-positive. Compared to other African countries in the region with more than 30 percent of infected inhabitants, Angola is in a good situation. 'Our programme helps to keep these figures as low as they are', Dr. Nothelle points out. But even if the infection-rate is still low, HIV/AIDS together with TB and malaria is one of the main causes of deaths in the south-western African country.

Together with the Angolan Caritas, the Red Cross Angola, the local NGO Acadir and in cooperation with the Angolan ministry of health, Malteser International trains community health workers, furnishes diagnostic facilities and accomplishes prophylactic measures.

The programme will reach about 250,000 people. It is part of the world bank's HAMSET-program that supports African countries in fighting HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. Besides the medical education and treatment, the programme includes campaigns against the stigmatisation and exclusion of HIV-infected people.

Malteser International works in the remote southern-Angolan province of Kuando Kubango since the end of the 27 year long civil war in 2002. The number of NGOs working there is in a constant decline in the last years. Malteser International is rehabilitating basic health care structures in five districts, delivers medical drugs and consumables in remote health centres and participates in vaccination campaigns for children and pregnant women.

Attention editorial offices! Dr. Georg Nothelle, Head of the Africa Department, is available for interviews. Please contact: +49 221 98 22 155.

For its projects in Angola, Malteser International appeals for donations:

Donation Account 120 120 120 Bank fuer Sozialwirtschaft, Woerthstr.15-17, D-50668 Koeln Sort Code 370 205 00, IBAN : DE49 3702 0500 0001 0258 01, BIC: BFSWDE33XXX Reference: 'Angola'

For more Information please contact: Petra Ipp, Senior Desk Officer Communication, Malteser International Phone: +49-221-9822-155, Fax +49-221/9822-179; petra.ipp@malteser-international.org; www.malteser-international.org