Africa's pandemicJohn Hume, Nobel Peace Laureate, has called for international action to combat the Aids pandemic in Africa. Speaking as a global patron of Aids Partnership with Africa (APA), a non-governmental organisation working with the people of Africa to fight Aids, Mr Hume said: "So many young adults have already died leaving whole communities of grandparents to take care of millions of orphans.
Aids is a treatable virus. The international community has the tools to treat and prevent this crisis from escalating."
Mr Hume was launching APA's website in Dublin. The new website will be a source for people to access information about projects being developed in Africa and will provide support for people wishing to set up local fundraising or education projects in schools and communities around Ireland.
Galway band The Big Generator also released a cover version of Depeche Mode's Walking in my Shoes at the launch. All proceeds from the CD will be donated to APA.
Andrew O'Callaghan, APA chairman, said commitment and resolve from the international community would defeat the Aids pandemic in Africa. Mr O'Callaghan added that Uganda had brought its infection rate down from 36 per cent to 5 per cent since 1995. "APA's projects in Ethiopia, Tanzania and the Islands of Zanzibar are successful because they work directly with the people of Africa to tackle the crisis from all angles including addressing the issues of poverty and development," he said.
"The World Health Organisation predicts that 90 million people could be infected with HIV in Africa within 25 years. Significant intervention will reduce this figure substantially. APA works extensively in the area of preventing the spread of the HIV virus through campaigns that inform, educate and provide community support and counselling.
"Our hope is that the new website will be a medium to bring the people of Africa closer to the hearts of the rest of the world," Mr O'Callaghan said.