Ahern's pledge over global fight agains Aids
Increased funding for HIV/Aids programmes will put Ireland at the forefront of the global fight against the killer diseases, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern vowed tonight.
Mr Ahern pledged to a UN summit on Aids in New York that the Government will spend €100m on the battle against communicable diseases each year.
The Taoiseach said this commitment was part of the state’s promise to reach the UN spending target of 0.7% of GNP on development aid assistance by 2012.
“My Government remains fully committed to being at the vanguard of the global response to HIV/AIDS,” he said.
“Ireland will continue to take its responsibilities seriously and to express our solidarity with the poorest people in the poorest countries who bear the brunt of this deadly disease.
“The fight against AIDS remains one of the greatest challenges of our generation. We will be judged by the generosity of our response and by the strength of our leadership.”
He told his audience at the UN General Assembly: “Too many lives have been needlessly lost already. We must not fail the millions who look to us for help in a spirit of common humanity.”
In coming years, Ireland will double its funding to UNAIDS to €6m per year and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria to 20 million euro this year.
It will also prioritise women and spend up to 20% of the increased resources for HIV and other diseases of poverty on interventions that will benefit children.
Mr Ahern noted that the European Union and its neighbouring countries were facing the fastest growing HIV infection rates.
“I call on the Member States of the European Union to live up to the ambitious commitments made in Dublin in 2004 and demonstrate leadership to fight this expanding epidemic,” he added.
The Taoiseach said Ireland was gravely concerned about the growth of HIV infections among women in regions like Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
“A combination of HIV/AIDS and gender inequality is proving lethal for women and girls. We are committed to addressing the particular vulnerabilities of women especially in poor countries,” he explained.
The head of Government said he planned to launch a national campaign in Ireland to combat stigma and discrimination against people infected with HIV.
