African economies "deprived" by Aids

Aids is depriving African countries economies as people are dying in their most productive years, according to the UN deputy secretary-general.

Asha-Rose Migiro told a conference on HIV/Aids in New York more needed to be done with non-government organisations to put in place national strategies to further tackle the disease.

Last year an estimated 1.6 million people died from Aids in Sub-Saharan Africa and there were more than 22 million living with HIV, Xinhua reported.

According to the World Health Organization, almost three-quarters of people living with HIV/Aids live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Migiro told the conference that the epidemic was driving down sectors like health, education and agriculture.

Skilled workers were dying, which was affecting national productivity, she said.

"Research efforts should recommend policies for inclusion in national strategies for dealing with the disease."

The meeting was expected to help better inform later talks scheduled at the UN General Assembly on Africa's needs.