AIDS and Education

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

Treatment and technical fixes are not enough in fighting AIDS ("Early Tests for U.S. in Its Global Fight on AIDS," front page, July 14). A comprehensive national strategy to address the high rates of H.I.V. infection prevailing in countries like Mozambique is key. In such a strategy, education and information should primarily be targeted toward youth.

The world's largest-ever generation of young people is now at highest risk from this pandemic. Girls and young women are particularly vulnerable across Africa, and are, or soon will be, in Asia and elsewhere, largely because of persistent gender-based discrimination and sexual violence and coercion.

Health education must be a priority to promote sound nutrition, reduce risky sexual behaviors and prevent and control substance abuse. All nations must commit themselves to basics: building health systems, providing affordable education and promoting gender equality and universal protection of human rights.

PASCOAL MANUEL MOCUMBI, M.D.
The Hague, July 15, 2004

The writer, a former prime minister of Mozambique, is high representative, Europe-Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership.

Originally published in the New York Times, July 21, 2004. Reprinted with permission.

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