With more than 1,000 children becoming infected with HIV every day, young people must become more central to the global response to HIV/Aids, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said. Ruadhán Mac Cormaicreports.
Speaking in advance of World Aids Day today, Mr Ahern said it was important to reaffirm solidarity with the 33 million people thought to be living with HIV and to "remind ourselves of our obligation to sustain the international response".
Of particular concern was the plight of children living with the virus, and while Ireland had allocated significant funding to interventions that benefit children, much more needed to be done.
"Although there are effective drugs available to stop the transmission of HIV infection from mother to infant, 1,150 children will still become infected with HIV today," he said.
"Half of these children will die before they reach their second birthday. Many more children living in households affected by HIV/Aids may be withdrawn from school to care for sick relatives or to support their families through work. Children must become more central to the global response to HIV/Aids."
Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa called on the Government to reduce VAT on condoms in next week's budget from the "luxury" rate of 21 per cent to the lowest permissible rate of 5 per cent.
"The symbolic importance of cutting the VAT rate on condoms should not be underestimated, as it would signal to young people in particular that the authorities want to encourage safe sex," he said. "However, this step is not sufficient in itself to reverse the rising infection rate and the appalling death toll of 397 during 2006 in Ireland. This is roughly equivalent to the annual death toll on our roads."
He added that an "appropriate" sex education programme should be provided in all schools, and that those at risk - such as intravenous drug abusers and others on "the margins of society" - should have access to free condoms.
Meanwhile, a report published yesterday by Action Aid and Voluntary Services Overseas shows that women and girls in the developing world are disproportionately vulnerable to HIV and Aids because they face systemic and persistent discrimination.
The crisis is acute in sub-Saharan Africa, where 60 per cent of those living with HIV and Aids are women, while young women are three times more likely to become infected with the virus than their male peers.
The report calls on donors and governments in the developing world to put women at the heart of their HIV/Aids strategies.