Written Answers. - HIV-AIDS Incidence.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:
250
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he accepts that the problem of AIDS is particularly serious in Africa; if he will indicate the countries worst affected; his views on whether the non-availability of medicines is a particular difficulty; and the steps he is taking to assist in this regard.
[2172/01]
The HIV-AIDS pandemic is probably the greatest challenge to development and progress on the continent of Africa. Latest figures show that there are now almost 25 million Africans living with the disease. An estimated 22 million people have died of the disease to date. These frightening statistics illustrate the extent to which HIV-AIDS has pervaded every sector of society in Africa and wiped out decades of steady improvement in life expectancy.
In the countries of sub-Saharan Africa HIV-AIDS is now responsible for the deaths of seven out of ten people in the young adult age group. This has hugely important economic and social implications for these countries as it is this important population sub-group who contribute to the economic development of a society and who are responsible for the upbringing and welfare of young families.
Among the African countries worst effected are South Africa, where life expectancy is expected to fall to 45 years by 2005, Zambia, where life expectancy has declined from 60 years to 40 years in the past ten years, and Botswana, where it is estimated that two thirds of young boys under 15 years will die prematurely of AIDS. It is a sad fact that those countries that have the heaviest burden of HIV infection are often those with the least capacity to respond to it. Across Africa, most governments simply cannot afford to supply basic palliative medications, let alone more expensive anti-viral treatments.
In my view the non-availability of medications for HIV-AIDS in Africa is a particular difficulty. The problem is more extensive than this, however. Access to medicines is only one component of a comprehensive package of care to which every person infected with HIV-AIDS is entitled. We have a responsibility to work towards redressing this situation and have a substantial opportunity to do so in the context of the expansion of the Ireland Aid programme.
The extent of the problem and the way in which it has undermined development progress, requires a response that is urgent, resourced, focused and sustained. The need to respond in such a manner and to support HIV-AIDS interventions has been well recognised by Ireland Aid. In January 2000, the Minister of State launched a new "HIV/AIDS Strategy for the Ireland Aid Programme". Clearly the availability of additional resources coupled with the publication of this strategy will allow Ireland Aid to continue to respond in a substantive and coherent manner.
Over the past year we have taken a number of steps to respond to the global HIV-AIDS pandemic. At international level the Taoiseach has pressed for higher priority for the problem of HIV-AIDS in developing countries. Following his visit to Lesotho and South Africa last January, the Taoiseach wrote to the President of the European Commission to request that HIV-AIDS be afforded far greater priority in the development aid programme of the European Union.
My colleague, Deputy O'Donnell, has also lobbied tirelessly on this issue. At EU Development Council meetings she has urged the EU to show greater global leadership in the fight against HIV-AIDS. Partly in response to these pressures, the European Union has recently adopted a strategy for accelerated action against HIV-AIDS and other communicable diseases. In a wider international context, the special UN session on AIDS scheduled for next June will serve to galvanise international efforts to respond to the AIDS pandemic.
In the case of Ireland Aid, international advocacy has been complemented by the allocation of increased financial resources for HIV-AIDS activities. Over the last year, substantial new grant allocations were made to UNAIDS, the World Health Organisation, and the international AIDS vaccine initiative. Several other such programmes are currently under consideration. In addition, new resources were made available for HIV-AIDS programmes in the priority countries for Ireland Aid. These are being implemented by both Government and non-governmental organisations.
I emphasise that these efforts are in addition to Ireland Aid support for the development and improvement on health services in all of our priority countries. Last year alone, over IR£11 million was allocated for health service improvements in these situations. I assure the Deputy that our Government will continue to afford the highest priority to supporting efforts to halt the spread of AIDS and to provide support for those suffering from this disease in the years ahead.
