Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the international community proposes to assist in the fight against HIV-AIDS in Africa; the degree to which medicine is being made available; the extent to which this meets requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10822/07]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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HIV/AIDS continues to be the single biggest obstacle to reducing poverty and to attaining the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs. Current statistics from the United Nations Joint Programme on AIDS, UNAIDS, indicate that, in 2006, almost 40 million people were living with the HIV virus. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the worst-affected region in the world and is now home to over 25 million adults and children living with HIV. Infection rates are increasing in other regions also, with some countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia recording the highest rates of new infections worldwide.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is impeding development and leading to an increase in poverty. It generally affects the most productive and economically-active members of society and serves to further disadvantage those people most vulnerable to infection such as migrant workers, women and adolescents. Women are in particular affected, not only in increasing infection rates but also in bearing the burden of care for those who are infected.

Responding to the global problem of HIV/AIDS is a key priority for the Government. This commitment is very clearly outlined in the White Paper on Irish Aid which was published last September. Following the commitment made by the Taoiseach in his speech to the United Nations in September 2005, funding for HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases was doubled from €50 to €100 million in 2006. Funding has been directed at programmes at international, regional and country level to provide increased access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services.

While HIV/AIDS remains a critical threat to human development in many countries, there has been some progress in the international response in recent years. This is reflected in stronger political commitment to halt the epidemic, a huge increase in funding for HIV programmes, the establishment of effective national AIDS control programmes — all leading to a real decrease in HIV prevalence rates in countries such as Uganda, Zambia and Cambodia.

Perhaps the greatest achievement over the past five years has been the increase in the availability and accessibility of anti-retroviral therapy. A reduction in the global price of generic drugs and the availability of more funding has enabled low and middle income countries to deliver HIV treatment to an increasing number of people. By December 2006, HIV treatment was available to over 1.65 million people globally, up from a low base of 400,000 in 2003. There is still a large unmet need but continued investment in building the necessary health infrastructure to deliver effective HIV treatment will enable countries to achieve the international target of universal access to HIV treatment by 2010.

Ireland supports the introduction of anti-retroviral treatment programmes in developing countries. In these countries we have invested in the strengthening of health systems, the procurement and supply of medication and the training of health workers, which are all necessary for the introduction of HIV treatment programmes. In addition to this, Ireland provides considerable amounts of funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria which has facilitated over 700,000 people to access HIV treatment. Ireland also works closely with the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation to allow those infected with HIV/AIDS to access treatment in Mozambique and in Lesotho.

Ireland will continue to work with the international community in advocating for a sustained and resourced global response to HIV/AIDS, strengthened leadership at all levels and improved coordination of resources for effective HIV/AIDS prevention and control.