The British non-governmental organization (NGO) OXFAM GB is to grant 4 million euros to Angola to help the country fight HIV/AIDS in rural areas of Benguela, Huambo, Bie and Moxico provinces.

In a statement made available here on Wednesday, OXFAM GB said the project funded by the European Union will benefit 12 districts of the four provinces along the Benguela Railway with a view to reducing the spread of the epidemic disease.

The program covering a period of four years aims to contribute to the prevention and control of the disease through the improvement of the network of access to services of prevention, care and assistance, mitigation and social advocacy.

Strengthening the capacity of local NGOs for the popularization of knowledge on reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the rural communities and establishing centers of intervention in cares and aid are among other objectives of the project.

According to Angola's National Program of Combat to AIDS, there are more than 400,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, accounting for 2.7 percent of the country's total population of 15million.

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2008)