MP in Talks at UN

Neil Gerrard, MP for Walthamstow, was in New York last week as a member of the UK delegation to the special session of the UN General Assembly on HIV/AIDS. Mr Gerrard was invited to join the delegation by International Development Minister, Clare Short.

 "It was a privilege to be able to take part in this historic meeting of the General Assembly," said Mr Gerrard. "Governments from all over the world came together to pledge their support for action on the AIDS epidemic. 36 million people are now infected with HIV, 90% of them in developing countries. In many of those countries social and economic development is being undermined."

 "Women, young adults, and children are most at risk, and the potential is still there for even larger numbers of people to become infected. Poverty, underdevelopment, and poor levels of education are major factors in the spread of HIV. Stigma, discrimination and gender inequalities also contribute."

 "A big step forward has been the setting up of a global fund on health, including action on HIV, and the UK has played a very important part in setting up the fund. But it is important that we do not rely solely on trying to provide access to medication. The most important task is to prevent the spread of HIV."

 "While in the UK infection rates remain low it would be easy to become complacent, but this would be a big mistake. We are all affected by this crisis, and it is only through international effort, involving both rich and poor countries, that HIV can be defeated."

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