APA - Lagos (Nigeria) The World Bank says it has earmarked US$14.3 million for the reduction of HIV and AIDS infection in Bauchi State in northern Nigeria.

Dr Benjamin Loerewensohn, the leader of the World Bank delegation who visited the governor of Bauchi State in northern Nigeria, Mallam Isa Yuguda in Bauchi on Friday, said that part of the money would also go into tackling tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases.

He said that the bank spent US$9.7 million last year and another US$4.6 million this year, for the reduction of the killer diseases in the state.

The World Bank official commended Bauchi State for setting up the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (BACATMA).

He said that the establishment of the agency had gone a long way in assisting patients with such diseases and that the bank would continue to support the state to ensure adequate health care delivery for its citizens.

Yuguda commended the bank for the assistance and assured the delegation that the state government had taken measures to ensure that its citizens accessed quality health care delivery.

Yuguda also said that government had renovated and reconstructed health facilities and provided drugs and other medical equipment to hospitals.