PHA-Exchange> How the world can conquer AIDS - By Kofi A. Annan

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from Vern Weitzel <vern at coombs.anu.edu.au> -----

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2006/11/how_the_world_c.html#more

How the world can conquer AIDS

By Kofi A. Annan

In the 25 years since the first case was reported, AIDS has changed the world. 
It has killed 25 
million people and infected 40 million more. It has become the world's leading 
cause of death among 
both women and men ages 15 to 59. It has inflicted the single greatest 
reversal in the history of 
human development. In other words, it has become the greatest challenge of our 
generation.

(AFP/Getty Images)

For far too long, the world was in denial. But over the past 10 years, 
attitudes have changed. The 
world has started to take the fight against AIDS as seriously as it deserves.

Financial resources are being committed as never before, people have access to 
anti-retroviral 
treatment as never before, and several countries are managing to fight the 
spread as never before. 
Now, as the number of infections continues unabated, we need to mobilize 
political will as never before.

The creation of UNAIDS a decade ago, bringing together the strengths and 
resources of many different 
parts of the United Nations family, was a milestone in transforming the way 
the world responds to 
AIDS. And five years ago, all U.N. member states reached a new milestone by 
adopting the Declaration 
of Commitment — containing specific, far-reaching and time-bound targets for 
fighting the epidemic.

My priority

That same year, as I made HIV/AIDS a priority in my work as secretary-general, 
I called for the 
creation of a "war chest" of an additional $7 billion to $10 billion a year. 
Today, I am deeply 
proud to be patron of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, 
which has channeled 
almost $3 billion to programs across the globe. Recently, we have seen 
significant additional 
funding from bilateral donors, national treasuries, civil society and other 
sources. But much more 
is needed; by 2010, total needs for a comprehensive AIDS response will exceed 
$20 billion a year.

Because the response has started to gain real momentum, the stakes are higher 
now than ever. We 
cannot risk letting the advances that have been achieved unravel; we must not 
jeopardize the heroic 
efforts of so many. The challenge now is to deliver on all the promises that 
governments have made. 
Leaders must hold themselves accountable — and be held accountable by all of 
us.

Accountability — the theme of World AIDS Day on Friday — requires every 
president and prime 
minister, every parliamentarian and politician, to decide and declare 
that "AIDS stops with me." It 
requires them to strengthen protection for all vulnerable groups — whether 
people living with HIV, 
young people, sex workers, injecting drug users, or men who have sex with men. 
It requires them to 
work hand in hand with civil society groups, who are so crucial to the 
struggle. It requires them to 
work for real, positive change that will transform relations between women and 
men at all levels of 
society.

What is required of us

But accountability applies not only to those who hold positions of power. It 
also applies to all of 
us. It requires business leaders to work for HIV prevention in the workplace 
and in the wider 
community, and to care for affected workers and their families. It requires 
health workers, 
community leaders and faith-based groups to listen and care, without passing 
judgment. It requires 
fathers, husbands, sons and brothers to support and affirm the rights of 
women. It requires teachers 
to nurture the dreams and aspirations of girls. It requires men to help ensure 
that other men assume 
their responsibility — and understand that real manhood means protecting 
others from risk. It 
requires every one of us to help bring AIDS out of the shadows, and spread the 
message that silence 
is death.

I will soon be stepping down as secretary-general of the United Nations. But 
as long as I have 
strength, I will keep spreading that message. That is why World AIDS Day will 
always be special to me.

On this World AIDS Day, let us vow to keep the promise — not only this day, 
or this year, or next 
year — but every day, until the epidemic is conquered.

Kofi A. Annan is secretary-general of the United Nations.




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