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HIV/AIDS

Answer

DFID officials have met on many occasions with Government officials and civil society organisations to discuss the HIV epidemic in both Swaziland and Lesotho.In both countries, DFID is providing support for both prevention and care activities through a programme managed by the Southern Africa Development Community. The project is providing £7.5 million for the sub-region, of which £2 million is being spent in Lesotho and Swaziland respectively. The work focuses upon treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), behaviour change and the promotion of condom use. DFID has also financed key posts within the Department of Health. In Swaziland, DFID support targets the provision of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) and in Lesotho it is directed towards monitoring and evaluation through the AIDS secretariat in the Ministry of Health.In Lesotho, DFID is providing additional support (£1.7 million 2005–08) to develop the National AIDS Commission so that the country can develop a more co-ordinated response. This support is combined with assistance to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), to strengthen civil society and with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to help the Government build work on HIV/AIDS into its economic and development planning.Outside of these project activities, we have most frequently discussed issues of HIV and AIDS with officials in the National AIDS Councils of the respective countries. Because the epidemic continues to infect many people, our discussions concentrate on both prevention and care.In Somalia, resources from the Global Fund were committed in June 2005. DFID is providing £00,000 to the UNDP to bridge the gap until Global Fund resources come online. DFID support to the UNDP will help to build capacity to the National AIDS Commissions in Somaliland and Puntland, and should benefit the entire population. The funding will also comprise support to Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) and Anti-retroviral (ARV) programmes, which are likely to reach 1,000 people.We are also contributing funding to UNAIDS for a ‘five country strategy' which runs from 2004–06. The aim of the programme is to improve co-ordination on HIV and AIDS across all five countries. Approximately £950,000 will go to Somalia which equates to 26 per cent. of the total funding package for this programme.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

440 c1633W;440 c1633W; 30768

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Finance HIV/AIDS Medical treatments Somalia Lesotho Swaziland

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk