Unicef says that of the 2.2 million HIV+ children in the world, an underwhelming 20,000 receive some form of treatment. The last Democrat to occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW wants to change that.

(IANS News) New York: Former US President Bill Clinton’s foundation has tied up with Indian pharmaceutical firm Cipla to provide medicines for 10,000 AIDS-affected children in 10 developing countries, Xinhua reports.

There is a huge need for such initiatives. Last year, half-a-million children died of AIDS.

The agreement with Cipla would enable supply of the AIDS drugs at less than half current market rates, Clinton told reporters Monday. His foundation will give $10 million for treatment of the children.

HIV/AIDS-stricken youngsters could be treated as early as next month; medicine has “already been ordered for children in China, the Dominican Republic, Lesotho, Rwanda, Mozambique and Tanzania”. The former President’s foundation has set a goal of treating 60,000 children by 2006.