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Biden’s Cameroonian pick to lead HIV fight

US President Joe Biden has nominated Dr John Nkengasong to lead the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar). The programme aims at combating HIV/Aids.

Dr Nkengasong currently heads the Africa CDC –the agency leading the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

If approved, Nkengasong would be the first person of African origin to head the programme, according to the BBC.

Pepfar, which has a $7bn (£5bn) funding, provides financial assistance to governments and supports treatment of their people infected with HIV.

US President Joe Biden speaks at a function in Washington.
(Photo credt: Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

President Biden has shown diversity in his various appointments.

Nkengasong’s appointment follows that of a Nigerian-American, Professor John Dabiri, whom President Biden made his advisor on Science and Technology.

Last year, President Biden equally appointed American-Nigerian Osaremen Okolo COVID-19 policy advisor.

 

Also, Adewale Adeyemo, another American of Nigerian parentage, was confirmed as Deputy Treasury Secretary.

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