Brazil has launched a programme to help other Portuguese-speaking nations to fight AIDS by sharing in the know-how that has allowed the country to successfully combat the disease.

AIDS-related deaths have fallen by more than a half over the past eight years in Brazil as a result of a strategy to produce generic versions of patented anti-HIV drugs and distribute them free of charge to people infected with the virus.

Last week, leaders from Portuguese-speaking countries signed up to a programme that aims to share the lessons learnt in Brazil and give other developing nations access to first-hand experience that they can use when seeking funding for future AIDS programmes.

Link to The Christian Science Monitor news story