Germany has provided 23 million euros (34 million dollars) to help prevent AIDS in central Africa, the Organisation for the Coordination of the Struggle Against Epidemics in Central Africa (OCEAC) said Tuesday.

This aid, which covers the period 2009-2012, was given to OCEAC and follows a first grant of 10 million euros in 2007.

The Germany-backed project has three objectives: to ensure that condoms and female safe sex aids are available throughout the region; to educate people in order to change risky behaviour patterns; and to reduce the harm caused by the stigma and the discrimination practised against people living with HIV/AIDS.

OCEAC consists of the five nations in the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea).

In the region, the incidence of AIDS varies between four percent and 12 percent of the population, according to different countries and sources.