UN Groups Strengthen Reponse to HIV/AIDS in the America
Washington, DC, June 11, 2003 (PAHO)—United Nations leaders in health and development, citing their deep concern about the "relentless growth" of HIV/AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean, committed Wednesday to join and expand efforts to curb the crisis.
"We call for immediate action from countries in the Region and the international community to prevent the significant demographic and socio-impact of the growing epidemic, which will undermine the realization of major development goals," said a statement from the Joint United National Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and its eight Cosponsors--the United Nations Development Programmme (UNDP), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), International Labor Organization (ILO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Bank. The ILO was unable to attend.
"Immediate action is required to scale up HIV prevention and support efforts among those at highest risk of HIV infection," said the statement issued after today’s meeting, cosponsored by UNAIDS and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which serves as the regional office for the World Health Organization. The discussions served as a follow up to the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS held on June 2001.
"The United Nations system, through UNAIDS, has an active role to play in supporting countries in their effort to extend access to HIV/AIDS care and in continuing the fight against HIV-related stigma" said Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director. "It is particularly important that adequate resources to support HIV prevention reach the most vulnerable communities across Latin America and the Caribbean."
Almost 2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to UNAIDS figures. The Caribbean, with about 500,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, has the second highest HIV prevalence rate after sub-Saharan Africa.
"We see this meeting as an opportunity to address some of the real challenges of this pandemic," said Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, PAHO’s Director. "Together we confront a situation that is simply unacceptable."
The statement by the UN leaders calls for increased policy dialogue on HIV/AIDS at the highest levels, coordinated United Nations effort to mobilize resources, enhanced cooperation, and stepped up involvement of the private sector and those living with HIV/AIDS. Special emphasis will be given to the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti and Honduras.
The leaders noted there had been progress in the Region but added that "further action should be taken to substantially improve access to care, support and treatment and to safeguard the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS."
The UN agencies called on "countries in the Region to significantly strengthen their national responses to HIV/AIDS through a comprehensive and multisectoral approach so as to reduce the vulnerability of populations at risk and of young people and empower them to become active partners in the effort against the epidemic," the statement said.
The statement concluded by saying: "We reaffirm our commitment to facilitate partnerships between governments and civil society, private sector and social partners in the world of work, and to strengthen the involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS as a fundamental principle for an effective response to HIV/AIDS."
The UN agencies committed themselves to positioning HIV/AIDS as a priority at all levels of their organizations. They also agreed to work together to involve a wide spectrum of groups, create a communications strategy, identify priority countries, and set up routine follow up meetings.
|
