A UNITED Nations report has named Zimbabwe among the sub-Saharan African countries making significant strides in tackling HIV, the incurable viral infection that causes Aids.

The report which was released ahead United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) summit beginning on Wednesday said countries worst hit by the pandemic had shown a 25 percent decline in infections.

"The data shows that countries with the largest epidemics in Africa - Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe - are leading the drop in new HIV infections," UNAIDS the UN's HIV and AIDS programme said in a statement.

The report said better prevention measures and awareness were contributing to the decline.

"For the first time change is happening at the heart of the epidemic," Michel Sidibe, UN Aids executive director, said.

"In places where HIV was stealing away dreams, we now have hope."

Sidibe however warned that a US$10 billion shortfall in the funding for combatting Aids in 2009 could put further progress at risk.
 

"To sustain the gains we are making, further investments in research and development are needed, not only for a small wealthy minority, but also focused to meet the needs of the majority," he said. 

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region worst affected by HIV, accounting for 67 per cent of all people living with the virus worldwide, 71 per cent of Aids-related deaths and 91 per cent of new infections among children.

An estimated 1.3 million people are living with HIV in Zimbabwe although government statistics indicate prevalent rates have been declining significantly over the last few years.