MP visits giant AIDS ribbon in Parliament Square, to support calls on Government to strengthen efforts in funding fight against AIDS

Two days before World AIDS Day, local MP John Austin joined a coalition of charities in Parliament Square to call on the government to strengthen its efforts to tackle HIV and AIDS, and keep its promise of achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services by 2010.

John Austin met charity representatives from the Stop AIDS Campaign – a coalition of over eighty UK-based NGOs - around a giant AIDS ribbon made of 6,000 red carnations. The AIDS ribbon, which stood 6 metres high, was created for the event free of charge by Floral Designer Chris Jones. Each flower represented one person who dies of AIDS-related illnesses every single day.

John Austin  agreed to support the Stop AIDS Campaign’s call on the Government to keep their promises on HIV and AIDS as it launches a new three-year Strategy to tackle AIDS in early 2008. He promised to raise the issues with the Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, and support an ‘Early Day Motion’ (no.183) in the House of Commons.

The Stop AIDS Campaign is calling for the Government to announce a funding commitment of at least £2.5bn over three years (2008 -11) in order to provide the UK’s ‘fair share’ of global resources needed to keep the promise of Universal Access by 2010. It is also calling for action to reduce the prices of HIV medicines and address the global shortage of health workers.

Steve Cockburn, Campaign Coordinator for the Stop AIDS Campaign, said:  “AIDS is the leading cause of death in Africa, so requires strong action from the Government to keep the promises they have made and give people the means to stay alive. They’ve promised action, and now they need to deliver it. The support of MPs in making sure this happens is absolutely crucial, and will be very much welcomed by communities everywhere”.  

Although gains have been made in providing more treatment and prevention services, the target of achieving Universal Access by 2010 is badly behind schedule. With just 3 years remaining, over 70% of people do not have access to the HIV drugs they need to stay alive, while over 80% have no access to basic prevention services. As a result almost 6000 people die every day from AIDS-related illnesses, and AIDS is the leading cause of death in Africa.