Mercy Global Concern - 2003

Talking Points for HIV/AIDS Session

Sept. 22, 2003
From NGO Working Group on HIV/AIDS

We are pleased to note that the Secretary General, in his report of 25 July 2003 states that there has been "significant progress in the global response to HIV/AIDS" since his first report in August of 2002. Through the eyes of our various constituencies located throughout the world but primarily in sub Saharan Africa, in Asia and in Eastern Europe, we have seen and applaud the increase in political commitment and resources to confront the pandemic is all its aspects. However, we also realize as the Secretary General points out that "in many important respects, the challenges posed by the epidemic remain as large as ever." From many of the current statistics it is clear that HIV/AIDS is not simply a health issue but a social, economic, a development and a security issue. Sustainable development cannot occur when people are dying and much more needs to be done. In the name of those among us who are living this pandemic we underline the necessity for the following:

• We call on all governments to fulfill the commitments they have previously made at earlier meetings particularly with regard to funding The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria (need country information re: country being approached.. e.g. in the US - President Bush heavily promoted his emergency relief for AIDS but less than a week later, he sent a letter to Congress asking for 1/3rd less than full funding. The law Bush signed authorized $3 billion a year, but President Bush has requested only $2 billion in his 2004 budget. This push for $1 billion less than authorized by Congress (and promoted by the President himself) blocks 1 million people from treatment and nearly 2.5 million new HIV infections that could be avoided.)
• We underline the importance of the pharmaceutical companies in providing access to medicines. We also encourage countries to develop national health plans that will allow their people to take advantage of those medicines being provided by pharmaceuticals.
• We are particularly concerned that the socialization and education which normally takes place in the family can no longer occur there with the high incidence of the disease in 15-49 year old age group. We believe that at the national and local levels supports need to be in place for these families and to ensure the functioning of society.
• We are also concerned because of the prevalence of traditional cultural practices which are harmful. On the one hand they may lead to increased risk of contracting the disease, and on the other, they stigmatize and put at greater risk those who have already suffered the trauma of family members dying from the disease. Strategies to deal with such practices need to be included in national and local plans.
• Women need to be empowered to be able to say no to dangerous practices and to unprotected sex.
• Mother-to-child transmission preventable and needs to be stopped. However, access to medicines for infected women cannot be simply tagged to a pregnancy. We have heard of cases where women become pregnant in order to get the medicines they need for survival.
• Finally, we believe that much more education needs to be done to counter the stigmas associated with the disease.