Press release

Millions of lives at stake unless leaders act on AIDS, warns ActionAid

New Delhi, May 21 2007: One million AIDS deaths or a third of the global figure occurred in India, South Africa and Nigeria in 2005 - three countries with some of the lowest scores on providing access to treatment - India providing 7%, Nigeria 10%, and South Africa 18%.

One of the easiest ways to prevent the virus spreading is giving drugs to HIV positive pregnant women - to prevent mother to child transmission. Yet Nigeria provides drugs to less than 1% of such women while India fares little better with 2%.  

A new report from ActionAid calls on governments to urgently deliver on their pledge to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care by 2010.

"In country after country, progress is staggeringly slow and with just three years to go to 2010, the world is in danger of missing the target that gave hope to the 40 million people living with HIV and AIDS," said Aditi Sharma, ActionAid's campaign coordinator.

The proportion of people in advanced stages of HIV who are receiving the anti retro viral drugs they need is below 7% in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. China reaches 27% while Cambodia leads in Asia with 91% access.

In Africa, Swaziland with a higher prevalence rate than its larger neighbour South Africa is doing relatively better with 40% having access to treatment.

"Women and girls are the fastest growing group of people living with HIV and AIDS and young women make up 76% of all new cases in sub-Saharan Africa," said Sharma.

"Biologically, women are more susceptible to HIV but gender inequality and lack of information are amplifying the HIV threat they face. In rural India less than half of women have heard of AIDS," said Christy Abraham, ActionAid's campaign head in India.

"Unless leaders back their rhetoric with real action and resources to promote and fulfill women's sexual and reproductive rights we run the risk of losing the fight against HIV and AIDS", added Sharma.

This week, as part of the Global AIDS Week (20-26 May) activists are expressing their anger about the number of lives lost and calling on G8 leaders and governments to provide access to treatment and tackle the deadly intersection of violence against women and HIV.

"There can be no effective treatment, care and support without well resourced, comprehensive and strengthened primary health care services that reach poor people," adds Abraham.

ENDS