Stephen Lewis, UNAIDS Special Envoy to Africa
World AIDS Day 2006
2006 was an important year in the fight against AIDS. The biannual International AIDS conference took place in Canada; G8 leaders were lobbied to follow through on their 2005 promise of treatment for all; and the South African government surprised everyone with a dramatic shift in policy. Fionnuala Murphy reviews the year.
In 2005, 40 million people were living with HIV globally. With several high profile opportunities for activism on the agenda, promises on a larger scale than ever before were expected. But when the G8 communiqué was released last July, the commitment therein to AIDS treatment for all by 2010 left activists and officials alike gob smacked.
Two months later, when this target was endorsed at the UN – in other words by every country in the world – campaigners wondered if a new day was finally dawning for the fight against AIDS.
But by World AIDS Day last year, the bubbles had already begun to burst. The Global Fund – a major funder of HIV treatment – was broke and a conference hosted by the UK to pull in new money generated just half of the $7billion needed. With 5 million people in poor countries still urgently needing treatment, campaigners were starting to doubt whether the will needed to stop the AIDS crisis in its tracks would ever materialise.
So were they right? A promise alone is rarely worth more than the paper it’s written on, and the 2010 treatment target is no different. AIDS advocates argue that without significant increases in funds, just trade rules and major investment in health, universal access will not be possible. One year closer to the deadline, let’s look at what’s changed.
Two months later, when this target was endorsed at the UN – in other words by every country in the world – campaigners wondered if a new day was finally dawning for the fight against AIDS.
But by World AIDS Day last year, the bubbles had already begun to burst. The Global Fund – a major funder of HIV treatment – was broke and a conference hosted by the UK to pull in new money generated just half of the $7billion needed. With 5 million people in poor countries still urgently needing treatment, campaigners were starting to doubt whether the will needed to stop the AIDS crisis in its tracks would ever materialise.
So were they right? A promise alone is rarely worth more than the paper it’s written on, and the 2010 treatment target is no different. AIDS advocates argue that without significant increases in funds, just trade rules and major investment in health, universal access will not be possible. One year closer to the deadline, let’s look at what’s changed.
Rough deal: WTO Ministerial, Hong Kong
In December, delegates ratified a deal purportedly allowing developing countries to import cheap HIV medicines. But rather than the huge leap forward feted by rich countries, the new procedures amount to little more than a lame duck.
Even before they came into force, African countries and NGOs were already arguing that the rules were cumbersome and impractical. A year on, no country has yet managed to use them to import cheap HIV drugs.
Even before they came into force, African countries and NGOs were already arguing that the rules were cumbersome and impractical. A year on, no country has yet managed to use them to import cheap HIV drugs.
Foot dragging: Round Six in jeopardy
Treatment for all is an ambitious target, and to reach it we need to ensure that AIDS initiatives are growing all the time. Yet in April it looked as though a new round of Global Fund grants would not go ahead because of limited cash. Despite Tony Blair’s pledge last year to ‘get other countries to step up to the mark’, the UK and other rich countries blamed one another and avoided taking responsibility.
Only when NGOs lobbied the Prime Minister en masse did the government act to save the new round, and the 2010 target, from going down the plug hole.
Only when NGOs lobbied the Prime Minister en masse did the government act to save the new round, and the 2010 target, from going down the plug hole.
Setting targets: UN High Level Meeting, New York
In May a UN meeting breathed new life into the treatment target, when political leaders reaffirmed their commitment to universal access by 2010 and kick started the process of national target setting.
It was agreed that UNAIDS (The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) would support developing countries to map out how they will provide HIV treatment, as well as prevention and care, for all who need it. A number of countries have already published national plans, and the challenge now is ensuring cash becomes quickly available so countries can begin to scale up.
It was agreed that UNAIDS (The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) would support developing countries to map out how they will provide HIV treatment, as well as prevention and care, for all who need it. A number of countries have already published national plans, and the challenge now is ensuring cash becomes quickly available so countries can begin to scale up.
A time to deliver: International AIDS Conference, Toronto
The International AIDS Conference represents a time for re-evaluating, setting the agenda and speaking out for what’s right. Key issues included the failure by pharmaceutical companies to provide cheap drugs in poor countries, and the continued denial by members of the South African government that anti-retrovirals are needed to treat HIV.
Activists were backed by Stephen Lewis, UNAIDS Special Envoy to Africa, who labelled the South African government’s theories ‘more worthy of a lunatic fringe than of a concerned and compassionate state’.
Finally, in October, Thabo Mbeki’s government pledged a new, more comprehensive approach to tackling AIDS. More than 250,000 South Africans are now accessing ART (Anti-Retroviral Treatment), and treatment coverage is expanding fasting than anywhere else in the world.
Activists were backed by Stephen Lewis, UNAIDS Special Envoy to Africa, who labelled the South African government’s theories ‘more worthy of a lunatic fringe than of a concerned and compassionate state’.
Finally, in October, Thabo Mbeki’s government pledged a new, more comprehensive approach to tackling AIDS. More than 250,000 South Africans are now accessing ART (Anti-Retroviral Treatment), and treatment coverage is expanding fasting than anywhere else in the world.
The Global Landscape
While access to treatment is having an impact – saving approximately 2 million lives over the last four years – there were 2.9 million needless deaths last year. More than 4 million people are dying without access to the treatment they urgently need. In the face of this, politicians in rich countries are still failing to match rhetoric with action.
- More than $8billion is needed to fight AIDS next year, rising significantly in 2008-9.
- G8 countries are still denying that global trade rules make medicines unaffordable, whilst the evidence says otherwise.
- Health budgets in many developing countries are still way too low to pay for the doctors, nurses, clinics and equipment needed to make treatment for all happen.
Where now?
This World AIDS Day, take action by writing a letter, wearing a red ribbon, or speaking to those around you about the kind of world we live in. For now, it’s a world where we know how to prevent HIV, and we know how to treat AIDS, but we lack the will to do it.
If we all use our voices, our minds and our energy to hold political leaders to their promises, we can we make treatment for all a reality. Get out and do it!
If we all use our voices, our minds and our energy to hold political leaders to their promises, we can we make treatment for all a reality. Get out and do it!
What now?
Find out about the change of heart in South Africa in Farewell Doctor Beetroot
You can read more about Christian Aid's HIV work and donate to the fund here
You can read more about Christian Aid's HIV work and donate to the fund here
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