World Aids Day 21st Anniversary

World AIDS Day 21st Anniversary

THE HON BOB McMULLAN MP
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance

THE HON MARK BUTLER MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Health

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

Today is the 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day. Since 1988, World AIDS Day has helped raise awareness about HIV/AIDS issues and the need to support people living with HIV/AIDS.

The Rudd Government today announced that Australia will provide $3 million over three years to HIV prevention programs in Burma, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to help reduce the spread of HIV.

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Asia-Pacific region continues to increase, with an estimated five million people now living with HIV/AIDS.

Recent Australian research has shown that inadequate HIV/AIDS education for men who have sex with men in the Asia-Pacific is one of the main causes of increasing HIV infection in the region.

Of the $3 million in new funding:

* $750,000 will be provided through the Three Diseases Fund in Burma to rollout HIV prevention programs for men who have sex with men, and other vulnerable groups.

* $1.5 million will be provided through the Indonesian Government to support the implementation of a national plan of action for men who have sex with men, in partnership with the Indonesian National AIDS Commission.

* $750,000 will be directed to the Papua New Guinea National AIDS Council Secretariat for policy and legal reform, clinical health service improvements, and further HIV education and advocacy for and by men who have sex with men.

The Rudd Government is determined that new national strategies to tackle HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases will be strengthened and underpinned by:

* agreement and commitment from all Australian governments;

* robust performance monitoring and accountability; and

* working in partnership with affected communities and community
organisations.

We have allocated $9 million per annum from 2008 to 2011 for four national research centres on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

In 2009/10 we invested $5.3 million for community-based organisations, such as the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS, the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, and the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, to support their valuable education and prevention activity in Australia.

Australia's theme for World AIDS Day 2009 is Take Action. No Discrimination. This theme reflects the need to fight a growing complacency toward HIV/AIDS in Australia and adapts the international theme established by the United Nations.

We can all take action on HIV/AIDS by supporting people living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS, being vigilant against discrimination, and promoting behaviour that reduces its transmission such as using a condom and not sharing syringes.

Up to 2008, more than 6,700 Australians have died due to AIDS. An estimated 17,500 people were living with HIV in Australia at the end of 2008 and around 1000 Australians are newly diagnosed each year as HIV positive.

The Rudd Government is committed to revitalising national efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.

Further information on World AIDS Day 2009 can be found at www.worldaidsday.org.au

Media Contact:
Sam Casey, Mr. McMullan's Office, 0421 697 660
Lisa Sedgwick, Mr. Butler's Office, 0421 444 959


SOURCE: AusAID