Rawlings lands in Ethiopia to tackle AIDS

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Reuters) -- Former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings arrived in the Ethiopian capital on Sunday for a three-day visit to discuss combating the spread of HIV/AIDS with government and religious leaders.

"We shall not let HIV/AIDS devastate the whole of the productive section of Africa and wipe out all (the continent's) skills," Rawlings, who is visiting Ethiopia on behalf of the United Nations, told reporters on arrival.

He is expected to visit Tanzania and Kenya on the same mission.

HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 25 million people living there affected.