PACIFIC ON BRINK OF SERIOUS HIV EPIDEMIC

Governments must make solid commitments to invest in national
responses,UNAIDS Regional Director says

Auckland, 25 October 2005 – The Pacific region needs a comprehensive
multi-sectored response to AIDS, backed by political leadership, if
it is to effectively address the growing threat of a serious HIV
epidemic, Asia Pacific Regional Director for the Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Dr. Prasada Rao said at the Pan
Pacific Regional HIV/AIDS Conference which opened in Auckland, New
Zealand on Tuesday 25 October.

"We are at risk in the Pacific of a serious HIV epidemic. The
question is not whether this will happen, but when this will happen,
whether it does so or not will depend on the decisions
made now, not in ten years," Dr. Rao said in a speech made at
the `marae' opening ceremony of the conference, underlining that
governments and donors must bolster currently-inadequate resources
for HIV prevention, treatment and care programs across the
Pacific

"Fighting AIDS on the political stage –where struggles over power
and resources are fought –is crucial to winning the battle. We need
governments throughout the Pacific to make substantial commitments
by investing now," he said.

Citing data from Papua New Guinea where an estimated 1.7% of the
adult population or approximately 47,000 people are infected with
HIV, Dr. Rao said the epidemic is on its way to spreading throughout
Pacific Island countries, with potentially devastating effects.
"In small island nations we are talking about the very survival of
peoples, cultures, languages, and security of nations," he said.

More than three hundred delegates from governments, non-governmental
organizations and the scientific community from across the region
are gathered to bolster the regional response to HIV and AIDS. The
conference will continue through Friday.
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