For Immediate Release
PRESS RELEASE
21 November 2006
New global AIDS figures for 2006 - When will we "Keep the
Promise"?
Religious leaders, faith communities, and faith-based
organizations are questioning the global political will to fight
HIV and AIDS in light of the new 2006 AIDS Epidemic Update issued
by UNAIDS today.
The report indicates that the number of people living with HIV
increased in every region of the world from 2004 to 2006, with
the greatest increases in East Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central
Asia. Currently:
· 39.5 million people are living with HIV; 2.3 million are
children under 15.
· 4.3 million people were newly infected; 530,000 of them
children.
· 2.9 million died of AIDS-related illness; 380,000 of them
children.
The human toll of the epidemic is undeniable and increasing. The
statistics represent the lives of our families and friends, our
faith communities and our religious leaders. We all must do more,
says Dr. Manoj Kurian of the World Council of Churches.
Among the more important trends noted by faith communities is
that new infections are concentrated among young people age
15-24. In sub-Saharan Africa, where the epidemic is strongest,
there are mixed experiences by country in behaviour change among
young people to prevent transmission (delay of sexual debut,
avoiding sex with a non-regular partner, use of condom during sex
with non regular partner).
We must focus on the vulnerability of young people - insuring
that they understand the risks they take, have complete
information and access to resources to prevent infection, and
that they chose to change risky behaviours, says Anne-Marie
Helland of Norwegian Church Aid. But we must also give strong
attention to high-risk behaviour - such as injecting drug use,
unprotected paid sex, and unprotected sex between men - if we are
to save lives.
Helland also emphasizes that People need support from their
community, including faith communities, compassion and accepting
engagement to change behaviour that puts them at risk.
The report also indicates that:
· less than 1 out of every 5 people at risk of infection have
access to basic prevention services.
· only 1 of every 8 people who want to be tested, to know their
status and protect others, are currently able to do so.
The good news reflected in the report is that lifesaving access
to treatment has increased with more than 1.65 million people now
receiving anti-retroviral treatment. However, this is still far
short of the global need.
Missing from the report is specific analysis of childrens access
to treatment (pediatric AIDS drugs) and prevention of
mother-to-child transmission. Father Robert Vitillo of Caritas
Internationalis states, The pharmaceutical industry needs to make
even greater efforts make these drugs available in better
formulations for use with children and to do so at affordable
prices. And our governments have failed to keep the simple and
affordable promise of preventing transmission of HIV from
mother-to-child.
Governments met in June 2006 to re-commit themselves to the
global response to HIV, and to Universal Access to care,
treatment and support. Campaigners emphasize that this must be
translated in to political will, programmatic response, and
financial resources.
Our governments must still learn to keep their promises -- and
we will not let them forget, says Dr. Sheila Shyamprasad of The
Lutheran World Federation. 189 countries signed the Declaration
of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, but only 126 submitted their reports
on how they have delivered. Only 84 have completed setting their
national level targets - as they promised. And the measure of
faithfulness will also come in closing the global funding gap
which was USD$ 5 billion in 2006 (USD$ 14.9 million required,
only USD$ 8.9 provided).
Shyamprasad concludes, This is simply not enough.
The December 2006 AIDS epidemic update published by UNAIDS is
found at: www.unaids.org
For more information, contact Sara Speicher,
sspeicher@e-alliance.ch ,
+ 44 1524 727 651
