Statement by Ambassador Farrukh Amil Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan in the General Assembly on agenda Item 41; Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS June 16, 2009

Mr. President and Distinguished Delegates,

At the outset let me thank President of the General Assembly on calling this meeting and keeping this agenda alive. Today’s meeting of the UN General Assembly is a testimony to the lasting commitment of the international community to jointly fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

  1. At this occasion we also thank the Secretary General for his recent report on the progress made on the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. The Secretary General has rightly emphasized to strengthen national legislation on prevention, improving law enforcing mechanisms and increase in annual financing upto US $ 25 billion from all sources by 2010.

Mr. President,

  1. HIV/AIDS constitutes a global emergency and poses one of the most formidable challenges to the development, progress and stability of our respective societies. Currently, in the world more than 33 million people are living with HIV/AIDS which forms one of the leading infectious causes of death in adults. In most regions it is striking at the heart, rolling back accomplishments in health, education, and leaving society weakened at every level. Though, it is encouraging that Investments for the AIDS response have increased from a mere US$ 300 million in 1996 to nearly US$ 14 billion in 2008. But still a large gap in funding remains in countries where HIV is on rise.
  2. The HIV/AIDS poses tremendous challenges to the public sector, particularly health-care and education systems, both of which are areas of human capital investment important to a nation’s future and economic development. However, it is also significant to note that HIV/AIDS is not simply a biomedical or demographic problem. It is a development issue which is deeply rooted in poverty and underdevelopment. Consequences of increased infections include loss of skilled labour, weaker agricultural sectors, falls in life expectancy and the sickness and death of family income earners.
  3. These challenges arising out of poverty and underdevelopment are further aggravated by high costs of drugs, limited access to health facilities, expenditure on transportation and lack of resources for antiretroviral treatment. Central to these processes are also the conditions of isolation and discrimination faced by the victims. Therefore the multi-faceted problem demands for a comprehensive and well coordinated response based on addressing the root causes that have fuelled this pandemic in poor countries.

Mr. President

  1. Pakistan is fully aware of its responsibilities toward achieving targets of 2010 and 2015. Currently an estimated 85,000 people are living with HIV in Pakistan with the HIV prevalence less than 1% in overall population. Although estimates for persons living with HIV in general population has remained fairly constant over the years, the shift from low prevalence to a concentrated epidemic took place due to increase in HIV reported cases particularly among injected drug users.
  2. The response to the HIV epidemic in Pakistan has been a coordinated effort of the government with the UN System, civil society and bilateral donors. The National AIDS Control Program has been in place since 1990s. This comprehensive programme, with the allocation of $30 million for the period of 2003-2008 aims to control HIV/AIDS cases by creating awareness, strengthening safe blood transfusion services and avoiding stigmatization of vulnerable population. In addition to that a comprehensive legislative frame work on HIV/AIDS is also under consideration since 2006.
  3. One year away from the universal access targets and midway towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals--- we need to commit ourselves to reducing the global HIV/AIDS resource gap through greater domestic and international funding. This funding must be predictable, sustainable and aligned with national HIV/AIDS plans and strategies. All stakeholders including national governments must be involved in building efforts at tall levels to move in a more robust way towards universal access to HIV prevention and treatment.

I thank you Mr. President