Dear Friends,
Doom and gloom have been the order of the day as the global recession has spread a
blanket of hardship over much of the world. Remarkably a ray of hope and sunshine has
come from an unexpected quarter – HIV/AIDS. There is no cure – yet, there is no
vaccine – yet. But treatment is available. HIV is treatable, it can be managed. Lives
can be saved, children need not be orphans, parents can continue to provide for their
families. The hopelessness of the past can be transformed into hope for the future.
At the end of this 18th World International Conference in beautiful Vienna, this is the
message we will remember from AIDS 2010.
For this transformation to become a reality it is not enough for treatment to be available.
It must be accessible. Universal access was the goal of 2010. We also know now that
those on treatment have less HIV circulating in their systems and are less likely to pass
it on. This has potential to lower rates of HIV transmission across the world. To deny
treatment is to deny life itself. I commend those leaders who have recognized that
denial of treatment is a denial of the human right to life.
Africa bears the brunt of the HIV burden, we need our leaders to make their resources
count in the fight against HIV. The 5.5 million precious lives still in need of treatment in
poor countries need help. The HIV issue is a human rights issue. HIV prevention,
treatment, care and support is a human rights priority, as much a challenge for
leadership as it is to vulnerable communities. But accessible treatment can overcome
the stigma that has obsessed our communities far too long. Accessible treatment allows
for improved health management not only of services to those infected with HIV, but of
all health services.
There are great possibilities. Much has been achieved. Antiretroviral therapy is a
tremendous breakthrough and we also know how to prevent HIV effectively, with more
and better prevention tools expected in the future. Yet, at this moment of great promise,
the international community has yet to live up to its commitment to fully fund universal
access. Now is the time to invest resources into health care, into HIV research, into
training, and health management. Our leaders, especially in Africa, have a key role to
play not only in mobilizing limited resources creatively, but in influencing attitudes, laws
and philosophies that are accepting of all God’s children.
A healthy nation is a prosperous nation.
God bless you.