New Delhi: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on November 11 announced an initial $ 100 million commitment to support an initiative to slow the spread of HIV AIDS in India.

"The new effort, the 'India Aids Initiative', will expand access to proven HIV prevention interventions among mobile population," IT global giant Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said.

The initiative will work to combat the social stigma attached with the disease and also increase awareness and leadership on HIV AIDS through nationwide communication and advocacy efforts, he added.

Earlier, Bill Gates met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and briefed him on the initiatives to be announced with regard to AIDS prevention in India.

"We spoke about the Gates Foundation activities in India working with partners in a number of areas, particularly new initiatives to be announced today about AIDS prevention," Gates told reporters after a 25-minute meeting with Vajpayee.

Asked about Vajpayee's response to the activities of Gates Foundation, he said, "Vajpayee appreciated the foundation's work and was very supportive of our activities."

He said that the focus of the meeting was only on AIDS related issues.

Gates said that Vajpayee was very knowledgeable about the health issues and complimented the foundation for its activities in the country.

PTI