MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce that I will convene a special session for ministers
and senior officials in the region in conjunction with the 6th
International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, to be held in Melbourne
in October 2001. I will invite the ministers and senior officials to discuss the
broad range of problems caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, including social,
economic, financial, employment, education and other issues.
HIV/AIDS threatens to reverse decades of development in the region, and is
therefore one of the highest priorities of the Australian aid program. Australia
has been a leader in world efforts to contain HIV/AIDS. In 1999-2000,
Australia's aid program allocated an estimated $20.3 million to HIV/AIDS
programs, 12.3 per cent of total health sector expenditure.
The Australian Government will also commit $200,000 to support the
6th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific to assist
people from the region to participate so others can learn from their experiences
in HIV/AIDS prevention.
This initiative follows the $200 million global commitment I announced in
July to help partner countries in the Asia Pacific region deal with the threat
of HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS strikes people in their most productive years and leaves millions of
orphaned children. It also disrupts key sectors such as agriculture, education,
manufacturing and transport. For this reason, political leaders need to commit
themselves to making HIV/AIDS a whole of economy issue, and to make more
resources available to fight the spread as well as to address the dire effects
of this disease.
The meeting on HIV/AIDS and development at the Melbourne Congress, along with
the attendance of delegates from around the region, will help achieve this
goal.
Media Contacts: James Baker (Ministerial) 02 6277 7500 / 0419 206 890
Fionna Douglas (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804
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