[Viva] FW: Press Release: ICAD calls for action on HIV and AIDS as part of the G8 child and maternal health initiative

[Tami S.]

  _____  

From: Kate Alexander [mailto:kalexander at icad-cisd.com] On Behalf Of
ICAD-CISD
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 8:04 AM
To: ICAD-CISD
Subject: Press Release: ICAD calls for action on HIV and AIDS as part of the
G8 child and maternal health initiative

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

March 22, 2010

 

ICAD calls for action on HIV and AIDS as part of the G8 child and maternal
health initiative

 

Campaign activities will target Canadian Members of Parliament, Prime
Minister 

 

OTTAWA, Ontario - The Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD)
and its 100 member organizations nationwide are joining forces with the
Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and its global affiliate unions to call on
the G8 and G20 leaders for the provision of Universal Access to HIV
prevention, treatment, care and support as an integral component of the G8
child and maternal health initiative. 

 

ICAD supports the labour movement's planned "Days of Action", commencing
March 21 and continuing through until the end of April, 2010. The campaign
will combine an electronic petition, letter writing, meetings with MPs and
rallies highlighting the G8's failure to fulfill its promise to achieve
Universal Access. The "Days of Actions" are timed to precede the G8 and G20
Foreign Ministers meeting in Ottawa, March 29-30, 2010 and the G8 and G20
Development Ministers meeting in Halifax, April 28-28, 2010. 

 

ICAD's mission is to lessen the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS in
resource-poor communities and countries by providing leadership and actively
contributing to the Canadian and international response. 

 

"AIDS is the leading cause of death amongst women of child bearing age
globally. Although we have made great strides towards universal access to
treatment and prevention, we cannot afford to risk reversing the progress we
have made", says ICAD Executive Director, Nicci Stein. "A strong commitment
from the G8 and G20 to achieve Universal Access must include a clear
timetable for implementation as well as adequate financial support for the
Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria."

 

The Global Fund was created by G8 countries in 2005 to tackle the global
AIDS crisis. Despite initial financial support for the fund there is serious
concern that sustaining current levels of support will not be enough to meet
the growing global demand for essential HIV services and programs.

 

G8 leaders need to deliver on their past commitments and not just focus on a
new target. "The campaign by the Canadian Labour Congress and ITUC-Africa
will demand accountability. Leaders will be hearing from those who are most
affected by this disease", says Evan Collins, ICAD's Vice-President and
North American delegate to the Programme Coordinating Board of UNAIDS, the
United Nations body that addresses the global epidemic. 

 

"The G8's focus on the health of women and children is welcome. Many HIV
positive women in resource-poor countries lack access to the means to
prevent transmission of the virus to their children, something that has
virtually been eliminated in the developed world. However, the success of
the maternal and child health initiative will be compromised if the full
spectrum of treatment and prevention needs of HIV positive women and those
at risk of infection are not met," Collins added. 

 

ICAD's support for the labour movement campaign comes from a history of
collaboration with CLC and is rooted in the organization's values of equity
and human rights in the field of HIV and international development. Campaign
materials can be accessed on the ICAD website www.icad-cisd.com.

 

For additional information contact: 

 

Nicci Stein,  <mailto:nstein at icad-cisd.com> nstein at icad-cisd.com   (613)
233-2770 ext 10

 

 

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