The UK is to spend £6 billion over the next seven years in efforts to strengthen health systems and services as part of the effort to improve access to antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited countries. Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development made the pledge when launching the UK government’s updated international HIV strategy in London on June 2nd.
Called Achieving Universal Access it commits the UK government to a leadership role to help achieve universal access to anti-HIV treatment, and to halt the spread of the virus.
Funding pledges contained in the strategy are additional to the £1 billion promised over seven years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in 2007.
After the US, the UK government is the biggest donor to HIV prevention and treatment programmes in resource limited settings. Launching the strategy, Douglas Alexander said, “I am proud of the UK’s international leadership on HIV and AIDS. This strategy demonstrates the UK government is committed to remaining at the forefront of the global fight against HIV and AIDS.”
Key to the strategy is a commitment to working with other donor countries and organisations to help bring down the price of antiretroviral drugs in the world's poorest countries. The strategy also includes pledges to help increase the coverage of services for injecting drug users. Injecting drug use is the behaviour driving the continued spread of HIV in many countries.
Services for children are also a priority of the strategy, as is the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Increased availability of family planning and condoms are specifically mentioned, with £30m pledged to supply condoms to Nigeria alone. Biological methods of HIV prevention are also highlighted, and the UK government has committed itself to increasing its funding of HIV vaccine and microbicide research by 50%.
To help make sure that the UK’s money is put to good use, the strategy priorities the better coordination of HIV prevention and treatment services. “We will continue to support services that reach those most at risk, are tailored to the reality of people’s lives, and address the discrimination that makes them more vulnerable”, said Douglas Alexander.