Press Release
5 June 2007
Hilary Benn says “we must do better” in effort to tackle global health crisis
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development, today called
on the global community to deliver better health for poor people around the
world. Launching the Department for International Development’s new
Health
Strategy
(1.2
mb), Hilary Benn set out the UK’s pledge to improve health in developing
countries by committing at least 50% of DFID direct spend on basic services
including health care. He also announced a £102 million boost to tackle HIV and
AIDS in India. He said:
“A healthy population is essential for poor countries to achieve their true potential. We have seen real progress in improving the health of poor people over the last few years, but despite this, in many countries, progress has stalled.
“The international community must increase the support given to developing countries and, as part of the UK’s commitment, DFID is providing £102 million to help India in its fight against HIV and AIDS. This will help put 340,000 people who are living with HIV on anti-retroviral therapy, 40,000 of whom are children.
“Major international players such as the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and the donor community have a vital role to play in helping poor countries to meet these health challenges. We are already doing a lot, but we must do better; there are over 40 bilateral donors, 26 UN agencies, 20 global and regional funds, and 90 global health initiatives. And the truth is that we are not working together properly. Without closer coordination we run the risk of devaluing what we are doing. ”
Hilary Benn was joined at the launch of the Health Strategy launch by Dr Joy Phumaphi, (Vice President for Human Development, World Bank), Dr Margaret Chan (Director-General, WHO) and Professor Michel Kazatchkine (Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria).
Notes for Editors
1. The DFID Health Strategy is being launched at Central Hall Westminster at 12:30-14:00 Tuesday 5 June. Speeches by Hilary Benn, Joy Phumaphi, Margaret Chan and Michel Kazatchkine will be followed by questions and answers.
2. Copies
of the Health Strategy(1.2
mb) can be downloaded here
or hard copies obtained from the DFID Public Enquiry Point (0845 300 4100).
3.
There are 5.2 million people living with HIV in India – two thirds of all
infected people in Asia. The £102 million commitment is in support of the third
phase of
Government of India’s National AIDS Control Programme (NACP III) and
will run from 2007/08 to 2011/12 (£95 million Financial Aid and £7 million in
Technical Cooperation). DFID Financial Aid will be pooled with finance from the
World Bank, as a joint contribution to NACP III.
Related Links
For further information, contact Sarah Saxton on 020 7023 0944 or 020 7023 0600, e-mail pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk or call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.
