04-09-2002 16:03:00 GMT Invalid Hora local. Notícia 4069268

East Timor: Gov't gives go ahead for AIDS eradication, awareness program

East Timor`s government gave its approval Wednesday to a strategic plan to combat HIV/AIDS and raise awareness in the new nation of the dangers posed by the virus.

A statement released after a meeting of the Dili cabinet said that the national AIDS plan would "stress the need for the mobilization of all sectors to raise awareness and reinforce health structures and capacities".

The Catholic church, the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations will assist the Dili government in its blitz on AIDS, which, according to official Timorese statistics, currently affects 0.64 percent of the population.

The cabinet statement also announced the creation of a new immigration service, which will form part of East Timor`s police force.

Separately, the United States has announced the appointment of Grover Rees as its first ambassador to East Timor.

Rees, a human rights specialist, was Counsel to the International Relations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001.

CJB/NA -Lusa-

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