ACTSA letter to David Cameron on HIV targets for southern Africa
By Laura | May 17, 2010
17 May 2010
Dear Prime Minister,
Re: Eradicating mother-to-child transmission of HIV
I am writing to ask you to commit the new British Government to prioritising the issue of mother-to-child transmission of HIV within its international development work. In the West mother-to-child transmission has virtually been eliminated, but over 900 babies are born HIV positive each day in the developing world.
Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) is the successor organisation to the Anti-Apartheid Movement. We campaign for rights, justice and development for southern Africa. The region is home to one third of all HIV positive people worldwide, and mother-to-child transmission remains one of the lead causes of infection in children. In South Africa alone, more than 70,000 infants are born HIV positive each year.
In 2000, governments worldwide, including the British Government, promised to halve rates of mother-to-child transmission by 2010. This target, however, has not been met due to inaction and a lack of coordination among donors, UN agencies and governments. With the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals on child and maternal health approaching, new initiatives are needed.
That is why I am asking you to make a firm commitment to:
- Raise the profile of this issue internationally and show leadership at this year’s G8 and G20 summits and at the United Nations
- Expand funding to organisations in southern Africa working towards universal access to ARTs and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission
- Provide financial and political support for DFID’s strategy on mother-to-child transmission which makes the issue a top priority.
Mother-to-child transmission has virtually been eliminated in richer countries. The time has now come to do the same for the rest of the world. During the World Cup we are encouraging ACTSA supporters to write to you and the Secretary of State for International Development on this issue to demonstrate the commitment to eradicating mother-to-child transmission. You can help ensure Britain leaves a positive World Cup legacy for southern Africa by making a firm commitment today to eliminate mother-to-child transmission by the 2014 World Cup in Brazil
Recently you have spoken a lot about change. Please start today by committing to this goal of making a real change to the lives of millions of children around the world.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Dykes
Director, ACTSA
Cc: Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, Secretary of State for International Development.
Find out more about ACTSA’s campaign to eradicate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Topics: News from ACTSA | 1 Comment »
June 23rd, 2010 at 7:08 am
Please take action on this issue immediately