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Media releases > STOP AIDS coalition challenges Tony Blair
STOP AIDS coalition challenges Tony Blair to make a difference to the fight against HIV and AIDS
(1 December 2004)
The STOP AIDS coalition of 80 of the UK’s leading development and HIV & AIDS organisations, including VSO and Oxfam have today called on Tony Blair and other G8 leaders to make AIDS history by committing to a date and a timetable for providing access to HIV/AIDS care and treatment to all who need it.
The UN special envoy for AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis says:
In terms of HIV and AIDS, it is vital that the world understands that treatment transforms everything. Treatment of course cannot be allowed to eclipse the difficult issues around prevention, testing and care but treatment is now the sine qua non of the AIDS response.
Currently only 8% of people in need of anti-retroviral drugs in developing countries get them. The World Health Organisation's initiative to get three million people on treatment by 2005 looks likely to miss its targets. The STOP AIDS (ACT NOW) report suggests that what is lacking is effective political leadership and that in 2005 the UK has a real opportunity to change that.
Kirsty McNeil from the STOP AIDS coalition says:
The UK government has stated its commitment to universal access to treatment but no timetable has been set for its achievement. 38 million people need action now, not warm words and a promise of further discussions.
The campaign specifically calls on the international community to:
- act to strengthen health systems in developing countries
- ensure the international community provides the necessary and appropriate financing
- promote lowered prices for ARV drugs and other essential medicines through reform of trade rules
Kirsty adds that:
World AIDS Day focuses attention on a crisis that is threatening to undermine years of development in some of the worlds poorest country. 2005 provides an opportunity to maintain that focus up to and beyond the G8 summit in Gleneagles next July.
Between now and then we will continue to put pressure on the UK Government and enable people in the UK to get involved in sending a clear message to Tony Blair to ACT NOW.
The STOPAIDS coalition is calling on the public to take the simple step of writing to their MP to ask them to do all they can to ensure that Tony Blair keeps to his commitment. They can keep track of how he is doing at www.stopaidscampaign.org.uk/blairometer.Br>
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