Written answers

Tuesday, 27 November 2007

Department of Foreign Affairs

International Agreements

8:00 pm

Photo of Brian O'SheaBrian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress being made in terms of the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by the G8; and his views of the progress, or lack thereof, in achieving universal access to prevention treatment and care of persons suffering from AIDS, the strengthening of health systems, the care of orphans and vulnerable children, affordable treatment and the promise to establish a G8 working group on AIDS. [30873/07]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a framework for development for the whole international community, involving cooperation between developed and developing countries, and are not confined to the G8. Their achievement will require a large push forward, not only by donors, but also by the developing countries which will benefit from a sustainable reduction in poverty.

The MDGs report, launched last July, gave us a snapshot of the progress achieved at the midpoint of the 2015 MDG target date. It is indeed a mixed picture. On the positive side, it shows, for example, that the proportion of people living in extreme poverty fell from nearly a third, to less than one fifth, between 1990 and 2004. If this trend continues then the MDG poverty reduction target will be met for the world as a whole. However, this is not the case for sub-Saharan Africa. Though the poverty rate there has declined by six percent since 2000, the progress is far too slow.

Although HIV and AIDS continue to be the single biggest obstacles to reducing poverty and to attaining the MDGs, significant progress is being made in some areas. Current statistics from the United Nations Joint Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) released last week, reveal that global HIV prevalence has levelled off and that the number of new infections has fallen, in part due to the impact of HIV programmes. However, with over 33 million people estimated to be living with HIV and an estimated 6,800 new infections occurring each day, there is still significant work to be done to achieve Universal Access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the epicentre of the epidemic. The increase in availability of HIV treatment and the impact of HIV prevention efforts are bringing results in some countries there. Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe are all showing signs of stabilising or decreasing HIV prevalence. About 25% of the people who are in need of HIV treatment are accessing anti-retroviral drugs. However, mortality from AIDS remains high in Africa due to the extensive unmet treatment need.

Key obstacles to progress include significant human resource shortages in many health sectors in sub-Saharan Africa, weak health systems, and the growing numbers of children orphaned as a result of AIDS. Over fifteen million children have been orphaned by AIDS and millions more are vulnerable.

HIV and AIDS have been on the agenda of the G8 nations and in response to a call to set up a G8 working group on AIDS, they have promised to regularly review progress made on AIDS. At the last G8 meeting in Germany in July of this year, they committed to making a total of US$60 billion available to combat HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, over the coming years. These funds are to be used to safeguard universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment and care programmes and to develop health systems at local level. They will go a long way in making progress to achieve Universal Access.

Responding to the global problem of HIV and AIDS is a key priority for the Irish Government. Funding for HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases is now at €100 million per year. This funding is directed at programmes at international, regional and country levels to provide increased access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services. Ireland will continue to work with the international community in advocating for a sustained and resourced global response to HIV and AIDS, strengthened leadership at all levels and improved coordination of resources for effective HIV and AIDS prevention and control.

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