Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
BBC News - Thursday, 20 November, 2003
The announcement came as they met ministers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and Uganda in Downing Street.
The task force is aimed at ensuring cash spent on the battle against Aids is used effectively in the countries where need is greatest.
Mr Blair told the meeting: "This is one of the key questions facing our world."
Representatives of charities and organisations including aid agency CAFOD and London's Royal Free Hospital also attended the meeting.
International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and a representative from the UK non-governmental organisation Consortium on Aids and Development were also present.
The US spends $15 billion a year in the battle against Aids, making it the world's largest Aids donor.
The UK is the second largest, spending ú270 million in the last financial year.
The task force is aimed at ensuring that cash donated to the Aids battle is spent according to the priorities of those working in the countries worst affected.
John Bercow, Tory spokesman on international development, welcomed the task force.
Prevention
"AIDS is not just a health issue but also a development issue. It is wiping out entire generations of the workforce, and young people who are future generations," he said.
He said the plan must cover prevention, care, treatment, including access to safe and effective medicines.
But he said the programme should also embrace "change of behaviour and managing the stigmatism associated with the disease".
"If we are going to reverse the spread of HIV, there must be serious political will on the part of developed and developing nations alike," he said.
"One particular group we feel should be prioritised is pregnant women. We must reverse the trend where by over 600,00 infants worldwide are infected with HIV from their mothers each year."
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