Lagos — United States Government said yesterday it had so far spent $1.5 billion to combat HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. The amount, it said, was part of $18.8 billion global expenditure on the disease.

Speaking at the Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, as part of activities to mark this year's World AIDS Day, United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Miss Robin Sanders, said her government under the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) spent $70. 9 million in 2004, $110.2 million in 2005 and $163.1 million in 2006.

According to Sanders, the US Government spent $304 million in 2007, $447 million in 2008 and $442 million in 2009 for HIV prevention, treatment and care programmes.

"Through September of this year, PEPFAR has provided compassionate care and support for nearly 2.2 million Nigerians and 355 million orphans and vulnerable children. PEPFAR programmes to prevent mothers from passing the virus on to their children have assisted women during more than 1.5 million pregnancies.

"Today more than 286,000 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS around the country are receiving life saving anti-retroviral treatments under PEPFAR. Since the beginning of the programme in 2004, the American people have commited nearly $1.5 billion to provide health and human development support and other assistance to fight HIV/AIDS", she said.

The US Envoy noted that the programme would assist Nigeria develop sustainable, long-term capacity in Nigeria to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and to provide care, treatment and support people living with the disease around the country.