ABSTRACT
The purpose of this communication is to review the assistance provided by the U.S. Government to programs that address the growing problem of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Africa. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) estimates that 9 million Africans have been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and that two to three million adult AIDS cases are expected in sub-Saharan Africa by the year 2000 (USAID 1993: 8). Approximately $140 million of the more than $400 million obligated by USAID for global HIV/AIDS control from 1987 to 1992 is specifically for Africa (USAID 1993: 14). On the premise that “heterosexual intercourse has been the principal mode of transmission … and accounts for over 80 percent of infections,” USAID’s goal is to decrease the “sexual transmission of HIV by promoting safer sexual behavior using a range of innovative communication strategies,” by increasing condom availability and use, and by controlling sexually transmitted diseases (USAID 1993:8, 25). USAID’s bilateral program currently provides support for three types of activity: designing and implementing HIV prevention programs, biomedical and behavioral research, and networking for PVOs (private voluntary organizations) (USAID 1993: 15, 19).
