UNAIDS Executive Director, Dr. Peter Piot, has identified improper utilisation of funds targeted at providing support services for HIV / AIDS vulnerable people as reason for the high prevalence rate of the scourge in sub-Sahara Africa . He dropped this hint at the International Conference ­on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) which in Abuja . The inappropriate spending of resources, Piot noted, has continued to pave the way for a gradual wipe out of Africa 's future leaders.

His words: "AIDS continues to outstrip Africa 's efforts to contain it and continues to pose an acute threat to future genera­tions."

To stem the ugly tide, he suggested an increased co-ordination and scaling up of HIV prevention and treatment Programmes. He explained that urgent and sustained action was needed at all levels to increase access to HIV prevention and treatment services in Africa .

Piot said: " Africa is still facing an unprecedented AIDS crisis. The reality is that in sub-Sahara Africa , over 3 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2005 - that's 64 per cent of all new infections globally and more than in any previous year for the region. Young people are making up half of these new infections." Piot, however, stated that some important progress had been made since the last International Conference last held in Nairobi , in 2003. But he stressed that much more intensive work was needed to ensure that all people in Africa receive the HIV prevention and treatment services they need.

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