The United Nations says the death toll from AIDS in Africa could surpass 80 million men, women and children by the year 2025 unless more effective measures are taken to combat the epidemic.
Over the same period of time, the UNAIDS agency warned Friday, the total number of Africans infected by the AIDS virus could swell (from 25 million at present) to nearly 90 million, more than 10 percent of the continent's population.
United Nations analysts say advances in treatment of AIDS and generous funding could reduce the death toll in the years ahead, but even in their so-called "best case" scenario, at least 67 million people will have died.
UNAIDS is asking for $200 billion to be spent in the effort against Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome over the next two decades.