Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2005
141 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the African countries which show the most progress in tackling the AIDS problem; his plans through the EU or UN to replicate the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13870/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra142 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has influenced the international community with a view to addressing the AIDS issue in Africa; the net benefit to date of such intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13871/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.
Since its appearance just 20 years ago, HIV-AIDS has spread to all countries across the globe. One in five adults in southern Africa is living with HIV-AIDS, over 50% of whom are women. The disease is also now spreading rapidly in other regions and poses an enormous challenge to reducing poverty and attaining the millennium development goals.
Ireland has prioritised HIV-AIDS in its overseas development co-operation programme. We were one of the first donors to develop a HIV-AIDS strategy and we have worked to ensure that the issue is high on the agenda of the EU and of the UN's funds and programmes. Since 2001, Ireland's financial allocations to the fight against AIDS have increased tenfold. The budget allocation will be around €50 million in 2005. These resources are directed at HIV-AIDS activities at global, regional, national and community levels and are implemented through international and regional organisations and in programme countries. The latter include six highly infected countries in southern and eastern Africa.
Although HIV-AIDS is now a huge development challenge in many African countries, there have been some successes in containing the spread of this disease. Uganda, for example, has managed to halt and reverse the spread of HIV-AIDS. This has been due to strong political leadership, the establishment of an effective national co-ordinating authority, the adoption of a multi-sectoral response, the allocation of financial resources and a strong partnership between governmental, faith based and non-governmental organisations. Over the past year, the Government of Uganda has also been scaling up the provision of anti-retroviral, ARV, drugs for HIV-AIDS treatment. This has contributed to a culture of openness to HIV. Although stigma around being HIV positive still exists, many people have come forward and openly declared their status and are actively engaged in programmes in support of preventing the spread of the disease and providing care and support for others living with the virus.
Another country supported by Ireland, South Africa, reversed its opposition to the establishment of a national programme of HIV-AIDS treatment with anti-retroviral drugs and is now in the process of rolling out a national treatment regime.
Ireland remains fully committed to contributing to the global response to HIV-AIDS, both by our political influence on the international stage and through financial contributions. Through our representation on the executive boards of UN agencies, such as UNDP and UNICEF, we have ensured a strong response to HIV-AIDS. In addition, Ireland funds the joint United Nations programme on HIV-AIDS — UNAIDS. UNAIDS is the main advocate for global action on the epidemic. It brings together the efforts and resources of eight UN system organisations to help the world prevent new HIV infections, care for those already infected and mitigate the impact of the epidemic. In particular, we have a strategic interest in the expanded UN response at country level in Africa. At our meetings with the various UN bodies, we encourage a more co-ordinated response of UNAIDS and its co-sponsors.
Ireland continues to work with the Clinton Foundation, a partnership which provides financial and technical support to assist in the preparation of integrated HIV and AIDS treatment, care and prevention programmes. An amount of €50 million has been committed by the Government for the five year period 2003-7 and Mozambique has been identified as the country of focus. We are actively supporting the development of a new European Commission programme for action to confront HIV-AIDS, TB and malaria and will also be represented at the upcoming review of the declaration of commitment on HIV-AIDS, agreed following the 2001 United Nations special session on HIV-AIDS.
Through these international fora, Ireland will continue to use its influence to advocate and promote strong political leadership and encourage effective country led responses to fight HIV-AIDS.
