KEEP AIDS FUNDING PROMISE: Marston and NDP MPs urge Conservatives on World AIDS Day

NDP FIGHTS FOR CONTINUED AIDS FUNDING
MPs Demand Federal Government Keep Its Promises on World AIDS Day

HAMILTON – Hamilton’s NDP MPs are pleased that the federal government has finally announced new money for HIV/AIDS but say that the announcement is just a first step.

The Minister’s announcement comes on the heels of a motion introduced by the NDP in the House of Commons on Wednesday urging the Conservative government to finally commit new money for the fight against HIV/AIDS and allow cheaper generic drugs to be produced for use in Canada and abroad.

“It is important that an announcement has finally been made,” said Hamilton Centre MP David Christopherson. “I was dismayed when our own Prime Minister refused to come to participate in the International AIDS Conference and even more so when no new funding was announced.”

In August, Health Minister Tony Clement claimed that the atmosphere around the International AIDS Conference in Toronto was “too politicized” to make an announcement on funding.

“My hope is that this government will now move forward on the urgent need for anti-retroviral drugs and work within the United Nations to create a separate and well-funded agency for women,” said Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MP Wayne Marston. “This is a human rights issue and an international health issue.”

Stephen Lewis, UN Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, has called for an international women’s agency to be formed. At the International AIDS Conference, Lewis said that “unless there is recognition that women are most vulnerable and you do something about social and cultural equality for women, you're never going to defeat this pandemic.”

Each day 6,300 people in Africa die of HIV/AIDS, yet not a single pill has been exported to make less expensive HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria drugs available to developing and least-developed countries. The NDP have been working to speed up the process of getting AIDS drugs to developing countries.

Hamilton Mountain MP Chris Charlton also noted that the Conservatives have a long way to go when it comes to the fight against AIDS here at home.

“AIDS activists around the world are concerned that the Harper government’s cuts to programs like the Status of Women could negatively influence AIDS policy here in Canada,” said Charlton. “While today proves that it is not too late to do the right thing, there is so much more that needs to be done.”