Britain Pledges to Join the World in Battle against AIDS

The World AIDS Day was observed around the world yesterday. Stepping into its 17th year, its impact is becoming more significant. World leaders began to see that it is not just a problem in the less developed Third World, but the fatal disease is actually spreading rapidly in a number of areas such as China and Eastern Europe.

While the number of British people infected is still on the rise, standing currently at 53,000 adults, leaders in the UK expressed their commitment to join the world in the battle against AIDS to address the special occasion.

In a BBC Radio Live Interview to mark World AIDS Day, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair encouraged the world to tackle AIDS positively. He said the spread of the disease in Africa is a "terrible, terrible situation" but preventable, that’s why the world shouldn’t despair about helping Africa combat the disease.

"Part of the problem is that I think people get fatigued and tired with looking at Africa because it all seems so hopeless," Blair told BBC, "It isn’t. There are things that can be done and there are real success stories."

In 2005, the UK will gain a great position in the international arena through its presidency in the EU and G8 summit. Blair pledged that Britain is the world leader in tackling Africa’s problems by helping resolve debt and trebling aid, also, Africa is definitely its top priority. He even said that helping Africa deal with the crisis was a "moral duty".

In addition, standing in line with Blair is the Chancellor Gordon Brown, who appeals for a larger fund from the government in an attempt to support AIDS prevention and treatment medical research.

Currently in Britain £315m a year is currently donated to AIDS vaccine research, however, Brown will propose to increase the fund by £200m. The extra fund has been set up in the richer countries to buy the vaccines in order to stimulate vaccine development in the Third World.

"We will also be willing to join with other countries to explore how to increase investment in AIDS research, and a jointly agreed advance-purchase scheme to make new HIV vaccines accessible to Africa and meet our millennium development targets on health," he said.

His proposal is expected to initiate a European support for AIDS research, Gareth Thomas, the International Development minister commented.

Apart from the political members, the churches in Britain also expressed the motivation to join the world in AIDS relief. The Methodist Church in Britain starts a new poster campaign carrying the message "The Body of Christ has AIDS".

Susan Johnson, Mission Education Co-ordinator, said, "Today we join with thousands throughout the world to remember before God those 39.4 million people who are living with HIV/Aids. We thank God for the work of the churches, other faith groups, NGOs and the many individuals who are supporting and caring for those who are struggling to live in this situation. Through our prayers we show solidarity and through our giving we show practical support."

Johnson further explained the meaning of the poster, "Many people living with HIV are afraid to admit their illness to other people because they fear rejection. But we have a gospel that teaches us to love and accept all people. Where one person suffers we all suffer. Methodists around the country are looking at their theology, and at what it means to be part of the Body of Christ when people are suffering."

It is worrying in the UK that the general public tends to ignore the seriousness of AIDS. A survey carried out by Marie Stopes International interviewed 2,000 representative adults. 54% of the interviewees thought homosexuals were at high risk, but only 26% thought heterosexuals were, even though the fastest rise in the UK is now in the heterosexual population.
"The results show that many respondents are not aware that this is an issue for everyone," said Ros Davies, chief executive of Interact Worldwide. "They still perceive HIV/Aids as a disease affecting only minority groups - gay men, drug users and prostitutes."

"The reality is that HIV/Aids should be an issue of concern to us all, especially young people. The latest figures from the World Health Authority and UNAids show that HIV infection is now the fastest growing serious health condition in the UK...It’s clearly no longer the ‘minority’ disease it once was."