Keep children HIV Free.

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Joe Costello TD - Minister of State for Trade & Development.

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Dear Minister

Ireland has been at the forefront of the fight against HIV for many years, and has been widely respected for this position. Globally, there is now a danger that HIV is slipping down the agenda. This is a crucial time in the response to this epidemic. 33.3 million people in the world today are living with HIV. Of the 15 million who urgently need treatment now, only one third are receiving it, despite the massive scale up in access to treatment. We have halted and begun to reverse the spread of HIV, however for every two people going on treatment, five are becoming infected.

Many of the challenges are being faced head on. But the very fact that 370,000 children are still being born every year with HIV is evidence that there is still very much a need for urgent action. This scandal is preventable. What is more, it is achievable and affordable. There needs to be global action to eliminate mother to child transmission. Ireland can and should lead the way on this.

At a time of financial constraint, good investments are more important than ever. Ireland’s investments in HIV have shown a clear impact improving the lives of families, communities, and countries. The White Paper Review offers a timely and tangible opportunity for the government to recommit to the response to HIV at a tipping point in the epidemic.  The political will and resources to respond to HIV and to end mother to child transmission must be put in place. There are many challenges facing the world today, but we have made steady progress in the fight against HIV, and now is not the time to let this slip.

All children should be free of HIV, so that they are free to live lives where they can learn and play like all children throughout the world.

Yours sincerely

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33.3 million people are living with HIV in the world today. Great strides have been made in tackling this epidemic with five million people now on treatment. This is still only one third of the 15 million people who urgently need treatment now. What is more, 370,000 children are born with HIV every year. This is completely avoidable. It cannot continue.

It is entirely possible, and cost effective, to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV in developing countries. It has been done in richer countries. Now it’s time to insist on the same for children born in poorer countries.

Ireland has been to the forefront of the fight against HIV for many years. We have been widely respected for this position. But now HIV is slipping as a priority on the global agenda. In the past Ireland has committed to spend 100 million euro on HIV and other communicable diseases; 20% to go towards children. As Ireland reviews its development commitments in the White Paper, there is a danger that this commitment will wane. Ireland must again take a lead on the world stage and publicly call for an end to mother to child transmission of HIV. No child should be born with HIV when it is preventable. Every child should be HIV Free.

Only then can they be free to play, free to learn and free to live.

Trócaire