Britain's International AIDS Strategy Launched

The Government has announced the UK will spend £6 billion on improving health systems and services in poor countries up to 2015.  

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Despite recent achievements in tackling AIDS there are still around 7,000 new HIV infections every day, fewer than a third of those who need anti-retrovirals have access them and coverage of key AIDS services remains low.  

The AIDS Strategy places particular emphasis on prevention and sets out a comprehensive approach that strengthens the health systems and services necessary for the international community to meet its goal of Universal Access.  

To achieve Universal Access the UK is committed to a number of specific actions, including:

• Working to bring down the cost of treatment       
• Meeting the needs of orphans and vulnerable children including those affected by AIDS                   
• Preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to their children and increasing the availability of family planning 
• Spending over £200 million to support social protection programmes over the next 3 years 
• Increasing by at least 50% funding for research and development of AIDS vaccines and microbicides 

One example of how the strategy will work is in Nigeria where Department for International Development will provide £100 million over the next six years to help improve the country's national response to HIV. Up to £30 million of that funding will be specifically allocated to provide condoms - this will provide 7 out of 10 condoms distributed in Nigeria over the next six years.  

For further information on the International AIDS Strategy please visit the Department for International Development website at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk