The head of the U.N. effort to deal with HIV and AIDS praises Japan for its commitment to the global battle against the pandemic but says domestic organizations need more support in raising awareness here.

Michel Sidibe, executive director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), was in Japan last week to discuss the international and domestic situation surrounding HIV and AIDS with government officials and nongovernmental organizations.

Sidibe praised Japan's international contribution, noting it was the fourth-largest donor to the Global Fund, an international financing institution to prevent and treat HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.