HEATH CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO STRENGTHEN EFFORTS IN FUNDING FIGHT AGAINST AIDS

12.00.00am GMT Tue 4th Dec 2007

David Heath supporting the "Stop AIDS" campaign

On Thursday, two days before World AIDS Day, David Heath, MP for Somerton and Frome, 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.

Commenting David said:

"I was pleased to be able to meet representatives from the Stop AIDS Campaign, who do such excellent work in combating this global problem. The six metre high AIDS ribbon was made of 6,000 red carnations, with each flower representing each person who dies of AIDS-related illnesses every single day.

I am supporting the campaign and calling on the Government to keep their promises on HIV and AIDS when it launches a new three-year strategy to tackle AIDS in early 2008.

It is vitally important that the Government announce a funding commitment of at least £2.5bn over three years to provide the UK's fair share of global resources needed to keep the promise of Universal Access by 2010. Other priorities must be to reduce the prices of HIV medicines and address the global shortage of health workers."

Commenting further, Steve Cockburn, Campaign Coordinator for the Stop AIDS Campaign, said:

"AIDS is the leading cause of death in Africa, so strong action is required 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 is in making sure this happens is absolutely crucial, and will be very much welcomed by communities everywhere."