South Africa-one of the countries hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic-is stepping up efforts to reduce HIV rates, The Associated Press (AP) reports.  Having spent $2 billion in 2009 on prevention, the South African government plans to spend $88 billion during the next 20 years. This is projected to reduce the annual HIV rate from 500,000 to 350,000. An international team of experts has proposed a more extensive strategy to cut the annual HIV rate to 200,000 at a cost of $102 billion. There are questions as to whether international donors will provide sufficient financial support for the strategy.

To read the AP article, click here.