Vienna:
The streets of Vienna lit up to celebrate life. Nearly 20,000 people, political leaders, policy makers, AIDS activists, scientists and HIV positive persons are in the city for the 18th International AIDS Conference. Many of the delegates lined up for a ball arranged specially to reinforce the spirit of the fight against HIV AIDS.
But behind the vivacity and colour, lay concern and anger because all the commitments made in the past to curb the disease have not been realised so far.
Funding has been slashed significantly, under the guise of recession, affecting all programmes across the globe. Instead of the promised six billion dollars, G 8 countries gave only 3 billion, a huge shortfall.
"When it comes to global health, the purse is always empty. 410 billion euros appeared from nowhere when the Greek economy faltered earlier this year. But when it comes to universal access we simply are choosing to ignore it. That is not acceptable," said Julio Montaner, president, International AIDS society.
In 2005, countries, it was agreed that treatment would be provided to all those who were HIV positive by 2010. But today, that goal is still distant. Many countries have scaled up, but not fully, like India, where only 3,22,000 people are on first line treatment out of a HIV positive population of 2.3 million. Even, those who are on anti-retroviral treatment often face stock outs, leading to drug resistance in many cases.
"There have been so many pledges, of solidarity - one world one hope - and yet there hasn't been a single slogan for accountability from funding agencies and from governments. We have failed universal access and laws still criminalise people and violate the human rights of children. There are no harm reduction facilities even the civil society has become too passive...," said Joseph Amon, Programme Director, Health and Human Rights, Human Rights Watch.
At the inauguration of the international AIDS conference here in Vienna, the mood is somber, few of the goals set have been achieved. Countries have faced severe criticism for failing to walk the talk and the emphasis this time is accountability, right here, right now.
But behind the vivacity and colour, lay concern and anger because all the commitments made in the past to curb the disease have not been realised so far.
Funding has been slashed significantly, under the guise of recession, affecting all programmes across the globe. Instead of the promised six billion dollars, G 8 countries gave only 3 billion, a huge shortfall.
"When it comes to global health, the purse is always empty. 410 billion euros appeared from nowhere when the Greek economy faltered earlier this year. But when it comes to universal access we simply are choosing to ignore it. That is not acceptable," said Julio Montaner, president, International AIDS society.
In 2005, countries, it was agreed that treatment would be provided to all those who were HIV positive by 2010. But today, that goal is still distant. Many countries have scaled up, but not fully, like India, where only 3,22,000 people are on first line treatment out of a HIV positive population of 2.3 million. Even, those who are on anti-retroviral treatment often face stock outs, leading to drug resistance in many cases.
"There have been so many pledges, of solidarity - one world one hope - and yet there hasn't been a single slogan for accountability from funding agencies and from governments. We have failed universal access and laws still criminalise people and violate the human rights of children. There are no harm reduction facilities even the civil society has become too passive...," said Joseph Amon, Programme Director, Health and Human Rights, Human Rights Watch.
At the inauguration of the international AIDS conference here in Vienna, the mood is somber, few of the goals set have been achieved. Countries have faced severe criticism for failing to walk the talk and the emphasis this time is accountability, right here, right now.
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