China is expanding its role in the fight against HIV/Aids in Africa by funding new projects and backing local medicine manufacturing as part of its signature health initiative, the Health Silk Road. Pepfar was a major bilateral American initiative providing life-saving antiretroviral treatment and healthcare support for millions of people in developing countries. Following a recent trip to China, UNAids executive director Winnie Byanyima revealed that China’s Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund was backing HIV prevention projects in Lesotho, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the joint United Nations programme on HIV/Aids, has praised China for its contributions to health issues in Africa. Photo: XinhuaSouth Africa, which has about eight million people living with HIV, received a US$3.49 million Chinese grant last year to fund prevention programmes targeting more than 50,000 young people and harm-reduction services for people who inject drugs.