Harare — THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) plans to hold an African regional conference on HIV/Aids as a follow-up to the just-ended Toronto conference.

The regional meeting would audit the outcome of the Toronto meeting, among other objectives.

It would develop specific frameworks to fight HIV and Aids and will also look into community capacity building and assist countries to achieve their goals.

Addressing local journalists at a media cocktail last week, Unesco director and representative Professor Juma Shabani said:

"It is our desire to hold this conference for participants from all over Africa. The conference is planned for year-end."

He said Unesco would next month launch a virtual library and laboratories to capacitate higher education institutions and further enhance their quality of education.

The Unesco cluster office will embark on intensive treatment education, which informs and engages individuals and communities about anti-retroviral therapy (ART).

Plans are also underway to expand the organisation's Associated Schools Project Network and increase the number from the current 83.

Unesco Harare recently established a desk on education and HIV and Aids (EDUCAIDS) at the University of Zimbabwe, elevating the university to the status of a centre of excellence. This is the second in the world and the first in Africa. Prof Shabani thanked the media for their educative and informative role.

"To us, you the media are more than just newspapers, television and radios. You are partners and our collaborators. In you we have the means and mechanism to reach our targeted beneficiaries," he said.