Xechem International Inc. (fka XKEM)

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Nigeria, Clinton Foundation in deal to fight AIDS

(just thought this was revelant given xechem works with ani cancer and anti viral drugs as well)

Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:59pm ET
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ABUJA (Reuters) - An AIDS charity set up by former U.S. President Bill Clinton signed a deal with Nigeria on Monday to make cheap AIDS drugs available to fight the disease in Africa's most populous nation.

The signing was witnessed by Clinton, who said that testing for HIV/AIDS was crucial to curbing the infection rate in Nigeria, where about 3 million people are living with the virus.

"It is because 90 percent of people who are infected do not know their HIV status ... that is why it is spreading in Africa," Clinton said.

The former U.S. president said many people do not go for HIV testing because they are afraid of discrimination.



Nigeria said the agreement would help expand access to treatment for children, and raise funds to fight AIDS in Nigeria, which has the third highest case load in the world after South Africa and India.

Nigeria failed to meet targets on drug access and transparency in handling AIDS donations, prompting a major donor, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to suspend about $50 million in assistance in April.

Since leaving the White House Clinton has devoted much of his attention to getting anti-AIDS drugs to poor countries at the cheapest possible prices through the foundation.

The foundation provides AIDS drugs to more than 250,000 patients through special deals with generic drug makers.

Nigeria has about 74 treatment centers where it gives out free AIDS drugs to about 40,000 patients, with plans to expand the therapy to more of those who cannot afford it.

The Global Fund suspended two five-year grants to Nigeria after just two years because of low numbers of people on treatment and concerns over data accuracy.