UN General Assembly
2004

to deal with the pandemic. Towards that end, we in Nigeria have established a national scientific institute for research on HIV/AIDS and intensified public awareness programmes. In that connection, we welcome the outcome of the recent International Conference on HIV/AIDS in Bangkok, Thailand. We thank the United Nations agencies and all stakeholders for their collective efforts to stem the spread of the disease worldwide. With regard to other deadly preventable diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, polio and whooping cough, my Government has stepped up its efforts. In a few days, on 2 October 2004, my Government will once again embark on a polio immunization programme, in coordination with six African States — Chad, the Sudan, Cameroon, Niger, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire — to ensure maximum effectiveness. These are countries where polio has been reported fairly recently. Significantly and symbolically, the programme’s launch, with all my brothers and colleagues present, will take place in Kano. Last year, the Secretary-General launched a United Nations reform initiative that we all warmly commended. In pursuit of that initiative, the Secretary-