The international development secretary has unveiled extra funding for agencies involved in tackling the Aids epidemic.

Hilary Benn announced on Tuesday that the government will put £116 million towards two major United Nations projects.

The Cabinet minister was speaking as the Joint UN Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) published its 2004 report at an event in Westminster

The report, which will form the basis of discussion for a major international conference in Bangkok next week, found that cases of the disease grew at their fastest ever rate last year.

In 2003 nearly five million people became infected with HIV, bringing the global total to a record 38 million.

Benn said the two government grants would help alleviate suffering and attempt to slow further growth in the total though promoting safer sex.

UNAIDS will receive £36 million towards coordinating its strategic work at individual country level, while the UN Population Fund will get the remaining £80 million over the next four years to spend on the ground.

"Sexual and reproductive health and AIDS are inextricably linked. By taking action on one, we know we are also helping to tackle the other," the Department for International Development chief said.

"Far too many poor women in developing countries live with painful, disabling and hidden injuries or illness because they are denied their rights to sexual and reproductive health. [And] 529,000 women die each year from pregnancy and childbirth related illnesses.

"Last year over one million women died of Aids. In sub-Saharan Africa teenage girls are five times more likely to contract HIV than teenage boys.

"This announcement of £80 million over the next four years for the United Nations Population Fund coupled with the commitments in DfID's sexual and reproductive health and rights paper, will contribute to more effective HIV prevention work among young people and women, as well as improved access to and use of male and female condoms and better integration of sexual and reproductive health services and Aids programmes."