Announcement of the World Bank Supports Madagascar’s Response to HIV and AIDS on July 12, 2005

Madagascar: The World Bank Supports Madagascar’s Response to HIV/AIDS Media Contact In Washington: Aby Toure (202) 473 8302 akonate@worldbank.org In Madagascar: Jocelyn Rafidinarivo (261-20) 225 6000 jrafidinarivo@worldbank.org Washington DC, July 12, 2005 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA)* credit of US$30 million to support the Government of Madagascar’s efforts to continue to promote a multi-sector response to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and improve the quality of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS. The Second Multisectoral STI/HIV/AIDS Prevention Project (MSPPII) will assist in Madagascar’s response to the HIV/AIDS crisis by supporting health sector activities and the training of health sector workers, funding STI/HIV/AIDS prevention and caretaking sub-projects by civil society groups, supporting project management and monitoring and evaluation, and by supporting the harmonization and coordination of donor activities. “The project will improve upon the successes of the first project by scaling-up local response activities by civil society groups with a stronger focus on places where the population is at greatest risk to HIV/AIDS,” said Nadine T. Poupart, the World Bank Task Team Leader for the project. “It will also emphasize activities that facilitate dialogue and action on behavior change and stigma reduction at the grassroots level.” The approved MSPPII is a repeater of the first IDA Multisectoral STI/HIV/AIDS Prevention Project that began in 2002 and is expected to close late 2005. The Government continues to be strongly committed to the fight against STI/HIV/AIDS. This commitment is a critical element behind the achievements of the MSPP. * The credits are on standard International Development Association (IDA) terms, with a commitment fee of 0.5 percent and a service charge of 0.75 percent. The period of maturity is 40 years, including a 10-year period of grace. For more information on the World Bank’s work in Africa visit: http://www.worldbank.org/afr/ For more information on the World Bank’s work in Madagascar visit: www.worldbank.org/madagascar For more information about this project visit: http://web.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64027221&piPK=64027220&theSitePK=356352&menuPK=356386&Projectid=P090615