MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce a new $3 million funding round under the Australian
Government's HIV/AIDS Partnership Initiative aimed at reducing the spread
of the virus in the Asia Pacific region.
The Australian Government takes the threat of HIV/AIDS very seriously and
last year we more than doubled our international HIV/AIDS funding commitment by
$350 million to $600 million by 2010.
The new funding will increase opportunities for Australian community
organisations and professional associations with specialist expertise in
HIV/AIDS to work with like-minded counterparts in the region.
Australia has expertise at the community level in the fight against HIV/AIDS
that is greatly valued in our region. Australian organisations being funded
under this Initiative will be working at the frontline in the fight against
HIV/AIDS in the region.
This latest allocation builds on the first $2 million funding round of the
partnership announced on World AIDS Day last year. The HIV/AIDS Partnership
Initiative is managed by the Australian Government's official aid agency,
AusAID.
Fostering partnerships between Australian organisations specialising in
different aspects of the disease strengthens the capacity of partner countries
to respond to HIV/AIDS.
It allows these organisations and associations to share their knowledge,
their skills and their experience.
An estimated 8.2 million people in the Asia Pacific region have HIV/AIDS and
unless checked the region could become a major epicentre of the virus.
The Australian Government is a regional leader in the fight against
HIV/AIDS. Australia's international HIV/AIDS strategy, Meeting the
Challenge provides strong direction to work with partner countries towards
reducing the spread of the virus.
See also Speech
Media inquiries:
Chris Kenny (Mr Downer's Office) 0419 206 890
AusAID (Public Affairs) 0417 680 590