Brad Pitt visits Ethiopia to study AIDS
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-10 13:41

Brad Pitt spent four days in Ethiopia to learn more about AIDS in Africa as part of a fund-raising campaign to combat the disease on the world's poorest continent.

In this undated photo released by the Nelson Mandela Foundation Tuesday Nov. 9, 2004, U.S. actor Brad Pitt, top, poses with former South African President Nelson Mandela, after being appointed as a 46664 Ambassador. [AP]

The trip was organized by DATA, a Washington-based lobby group co-founded by rock star Bono that campaigns on Third World trade, debt and HIV/AIDS. Pitt began his first visit to Ethiopia Friday and left late Monday night.

"It was a listening and learning visit," DATA spokesman Jamie Drummond said Tuesday. He declined requests for comment from Pitt, star of the film "Troy."

While in Ethiopia, Pitt visited local projects fighting the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The 40-year-old actor also met with eight top Ethiopian singers who have collaborated on songs to educate people about HIV and to raise money for AIDS programs.

Tsedenia Gebremarkos, who has just released a hit album in Ethiopia, said Pitt was keen to know how AIDS had affected the nation, where the average annual income is $100.

"He was very humble and really interested in the situation here," Tsedenia said. "We hope his popularity can raise awareness in the same way we are trying to. We need the support of people like him."

In Africa, 29.4 million people are living with the virus, which has left 25 million children orphaned, according to United Nations figures. Bono has traveled the world spreading the message that more than 6,500 Africans die every day from AIDS, while 8,000 new people are infected daily.

Only about 50,000 Africans get potentially life-saving drugs, known as anti-retrovirals, while at least 4 million people need the drugs, which cost more than most Africans earn.

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