ABIDJAN, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - The United States is to distribute 120 million dollars (80 million euros) in anti-AIDS and HIV aid to the Ivory Coast over the new financial year, its embassy in Abidjan said Tuesday.

The announcement marks a funding increase of 43 per cent over the previous fiscal period, which ended on March 31, for the fifth year of Washington's global 15 billion dollar aid programme which targets over 100 countries.

Thirty-seven partners ranging from government agencies to international NGOs dealing in prevention, care and drug services are accredited to the programme, with another 75 sub-contractors also benefitting in one of the US's top 15 priority nations.

A more equal geographical spread for services is the aim for the new budget.

In the previous year, the plan gave treatment to more than 74,000 people, with almost 35,000 receiving antiretroviral drugs and some 41,000 orphans and vulnerable children also taken into care.