$12m to fight Aids in Islands

Prime Minister Helen Clark has pledged $12 million towards fighting the spread of HIV/Aids in the Pacific region, as a conference in Auckland called for strong political leadership on the issue.

Clark made the announcement yesterday at the annual Pacific Forum meeting of the region's leaders in Papua New Guinea.

The $12 million package of support over the next three years will be targeted towards the Pacific regional HIV/Aids strategy and other initiatives.

In Auckland the Pacific Forum's social policy adviser Dr Helen Tavola told a conference that political leaders had been warned in 2002 they needed to show real leadership on the HIV/Aids issue because of the high potential risks to the region.

Dr Tavola said the region was vulnerable given high rates of sexually transmitted diseases, mobile populations, low economic growth, poor employment opportunities, substance abuse, sexual violence, a high tolerance for multiple sexual partners and limited knowledge of health issues.

The leaders had called for a strategic response to be formulated which had been prepared and the regional strategy had now been signed off by them at the Papua New Guinea meeting.

The strategy called for the commitment of leaders at all levels of society to prevent and reduce Aids.

It highlighted other areas that needed strengthening such as prevention, treatment, human rights and research.

Dr Tavola said the strategy demonstrated a political commitment from the forum countries and provided a framework for action.

Ratu Epeli Ganilau, a former chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs in Fiji, said traditional leadership was crucial in facing the challenges of HIV/Aids.

The chiefly system was a very effective tool for disseminating information, he said.

"History has shown traditional chiefs have a lot of influence in the community ... if it's openly discussing the subject that is a step forward in educating people."

Ratu Epeli said Fiji faced problems with poverty, illiteracy, sexual exploitation of girls, unsafe sex and denial about sexual practices such as homosexuality which in light of the HIV/Aids problem saw it "heading towards catastrophe".

"We cannot afford to ignore HIV/Aids ... we must move forward with speed to halt the virus before the Pacific window of opportunity slams shut."

Economist Dr Ross McLeod, a consultant to the Asia Development Bank, said forecasting models predicted HIV/Aids prevalence in Fiji could approach 1 per cent of the population by 2020 with an estimated 555 people needing antiretroviral treatment.

Papua New Guinea could reach a 14 per cent infection rate with 52,000 deaths a year and 82,160 people requiring treatment.

Sufferers would take up over half the available hospital beds, he said.