US Secretary Hillary Clinton has applauded Zimbabwe for increasing its budget for antiretroviral therapy (ART). For Clinton, it is clear indication that how much Zimbabwe is dedicated towards HIV and AIDS treatment. In its 2011 budget, the US$ 5 million would be kept for treatment of HIV and AIDS.

Giving credit to Health Minister Joseph Kasonde, Clinton said Zimbabwe would make sure that it has AIDS-free generation. She presented her speech at the National Institute of Health in Maryland where she spoke on the topic of ‘Creating an AIDS-free generation’.

Allocation of additional money has doubled the amount of budget for the country, but the effort has won the heart of people world over, and especially, in its own country. Clinton, while appreciating Zimbabwe, affirmed, “More countries need to follow the lead of Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Rwanda, and other that are committing large shares of their own budget to HIV and AIDS”.

Clinton could not keep her country from applauding, and asserted that the US has also initiated many schemes for public concern, like Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, voluntary medical male circumcision. By citing examples, she means to assert that other countries should also follow them and Zimbabwe to make sure their citizens are safe in their home land.

HIV is one such problem, which needs expanded forum where solution to this problem could be chalked out. She said ‘an AIDS free generation’ would be the need of the hour in coming time, as things would only get costlier and treatments would be available at sky rocket prices. Therefore, ‘prevention is better than cure’ would be the best method to adopt from now only.

The Zambian Government has understood the severity of HIV and has now announced that they are committed to eradicate it from their country, such kind of determination is needed from other countries as well, said Clinton.