CAPE TOWN, February 10, 2009: The new Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr Michel Sidibé, Tuesday gave his first major global statement at a public meeting in Khayelitsha, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town in South Africa which has a population of approximately one million people.
Building on the commitment countries have made to reach universal access (adgang til livsforlængende medicin for hiv-ramte, red.) by 2010, Mr Sidibé set out his strategy for the future direction of UNAIDS and highlighted the need to invigorate global momentum, action and commitment towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
Like other regions of the world southern Africa is feeling the effects of the global economic crisis. Mr Sidibé stressed the need for follow through on domestic and international investments and commitments to meet 2010 country targets.
– We cannot let the economic crisis paralyze us, said Mr Sidibé.
-Stimulus packages and economic adjustments should be made with a human face in mind. A mother should not have to choose between continuing AIDS treatment and feeding her children. We cannot let down the 4 million people on treatment and millions more in need today, noted he.
A new report released by UNAIDS today, “What countries need: Investments needed for 2010 targets”, calls for investment to ensure countries reach the ambitious universal access targets that they have set for 2010.
To reach these, an estimated investment of 25 billion US dollar will be required in 2010 which is 11,3 billion more than is available today.
– It will not be easy to close this gap but it is achievable and absolutely necessary if we are to accelerate the pace of the response to the AIDS epidemic,” said Michel Sidibé, adding:
-Together we will help save lives—by putting more people on treatment, protecting babies and young people from getting infected, and ensuring that a whole generation of children will graduate from school.
Kilde: www.unaids.org
Læs rapport “What countries need: Investments needed for 2010 targets” på: http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2009/20090210__investments_needed_2010_en.pdf
