There are now about 100,000 orphans in Tanzania whose parents have died from AIDS, President Mwinyi announced recently. Furthermore, he said that there were many elderly people left behind as destitutes following the death of their sons and daughters due to AIDS. Some 500,000 women – 8% of all women of child bearing age were said to have developed the HIV micro organism which triggers the deadly disease.

“We have to be frank about this situation” he said. “Unless something is done soon, AIDS threatens to wipe out our nation”. He said that AIDS was not only a medical problem but a serious disaster which demanded a multi-sector approach – Daily News.