US to help Latin America fight Aids

– The US will increase aid to Latin America to combat HIV/Aids, First Lady Jill Biden said during a visit to Panama.

Biden was visiting the Casa Hogar el Buen Samaritano – The Good Samaritan Home – a shelter east of Panama City for people living with HIV.

Her spokesperson Michael la Rosa said in a statement the US would send an additional $80.9 million (about R1.3 billion) to Latin America, $12 million of which will go to Panama.

“The state department is making an announcement for increased funding for Pepfar,” Biden said, referring to the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief.

Biden is on a tour of Latin America including Ecuador, Panama and Costa Rica.

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