Lisbon - Health ministers of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) set up today in Lisbon (Portugal) a health research and development network on HIV-AIDS and sexually transmitted deseases (STDs).

According to the ministers, the creation of the network derives from the fact that HIV-AIDS and STDs became a glogal emergency and a challange to sustainable development, to the closer cooperation among the community and to the results obtained by Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and East Timor.

The network, called RIDES-SIDA CPLP, is expected to strenghten the programs of CPLP member states on HIV-AIDS and STDs through technical cooperation and policy concertation.   

The network will strenghten cooperation mechanisms among the CPLP member states, promote global prevention, diagnosis, treatment and assistance, prepare and implement plans of actions, gather financial resources from governments and other organizations and combat stigma and discrimination.   

The CPLP member states are Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tome and Principe and East Timor.