Ignoring AIDS not an option, says Blair

Tuesday, 20 July 2004 12:00 AM

Launching the Government's new global AIDS strategy this morning, the Prime Minister warned "ignoring the issue of AIDS is simply not an option."

The Chancellor allocated £1.5 billion of funding for AIDS prevention and treatment work in his Comprehensive Spending Review, and the International Development Secretary is expected to set out in more detail today exactly how it will be spent.

But speaking this morning at a Number Ten breakfast with women and young people living with or made vulnerable by AIDS, Tony Blair outlined the Government's main strategic vision.

He stated that £150 million will be allocated to helping children orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS, with the aim being to ensure that all developing countries have national plans in place by 2005 on how to meet the needs of those orphaned by AIDS.

In addition the UK will double its contribution to the Global Fund set up to fight AIDS, TB and malaria to £150 million over the next three years.

Mr Blair said: "Ignoring the issue of AIDS is simply not an option. This is a tragedy that spans personal and global scales and it is appalling that life expectancy in some of the worst affected areas is falling back to pre-1950 levels.

"But this is not just about the millions of personal and family tragedies appalling though these are. Already fragile economies are seeing their working age populations destroyed. Quite simply, we cannot hope to tackle poverty on a global scale without addressing AIDS. Today's strategy will place Britain at the forefront of this response."

The UK's overseas development aid is anticipated to reach 0.47 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2007/8. The key figure for campaigners is the 0.7 per cent GNI recommended by the UN. Though the Government has given no firm commitment to meeting that level, it says that it wishes to maintain a growth in overseas aid, and that on current projections the target may be achieved by 2013.

Also speaking this morning, the International Development Secretary Hilary Benn said: "'Taking Action: the UK's strategy to tackle HIV and AIDS in the developing world' - launched today - sets out how we will work with developing countries, other donors and multilateral organisations to coordinate international efforts, close the £6.6 billion funding gap and improve health, education and human rights for the poorest and most vulnerable in developing countries."

"The UK is committed to supporting national governments take forward a combination of approaches, balancing the urgent need to prevent new HIV infections with efforts to treat and care for people with HIV and AIDS. Today we are issuing guidance to UK staff on how we will step up our treatment and care efforts.

"Responding to the challenges posed by stigma and discrimination, and securing human rights, are central to this strategy. People whose human rights are abused are most vulnerable to HIV, and we will take all measures we can to ensure that human rights are respected and discrimination outlawed."

In a significant divergence with American policy the UK will continue to support programmes that provide access to contraceptives such as condoms. The USA in contrast will only give its support to programmes that promote abstinence and fidelity.

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