Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assistance being given to African countries in respect of AIDS and HIV; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40835/08]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I believe that the fight against HIV and AIDS in Africa and beyond is fundamental to poverty reduction. We spend over €100 million annually on combating HIV and other diseases of poverty. Our assistance is targeted at those countries most affected by the pandemic including Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Zambia and Malawi.

The Government is investing in programmes that are benefiting those most in need, delivering anti-retroviral treatment in the countries most affected and providing support to children made vulnerable by AIDS. We also invest in empowering women and girls to protect themselves from infection.

In partnership with the Clinton Foundation, Ireland has increased its funding to the Governments of Mozambique and Lesotho to improve the accessibility of HIV treatment in rural areas and in particular to women and children. As a result of our work in Mozambique, over 78,000 people are now on HIV treatment, up from less than 2,000 people at the end of 2002. In Lesotho, following one year of operation, 4 health facilities have been refurbished and over 2,500 people are accessing HIV treatment including 100 children.

Significant progress has been made in a number of countries in reducing the prevalence of HIV and AIDS. For example, Uganda has succeeded in reducing the rates of infection from 18.3% in 1992 to 6.4% today. This is an enormous achievement. Ireland has played its part in this improvement.

Ireland has contributed over €80 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) over the period 2002-2008. Almost 60% of Global Fund resources are allocated to sub-Saharan Africa and to date over 1.4 million men, women and children are accessing HIV treatment and many more are accessing essential HIV prevention and care services.

We are committed to continuing our work to address HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases in Africa and to ensuring that men, women and children get access to quality health and HIV services.