Neighbours to join forces on health

Mozambique and South Africa are to sign a health cooperation agreement, allowing the exchange of knowledge on diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Mozambican Health Minister Ivo Garrido and his South African counterpart, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, met in the Mozambican capital, Maputo, on Monday to finalise details of the agreement. The local news agency, AIM, quoted Garrido as saying: "Our aim is to share experiences and harmonize strategies in specific areas, such as HIV/AIDS, taking into account that there is a sizeable movement of people between both countries, mainly of Mozambican miners working in South Africa." Mozambique's rate of HIV/AIDS is estimated at 14.9 percent, while South Africa has one of the highest infection rates in the world.