Halting the spread of killer diseases
HIV and AIDS Factsheet (378
kb) | Malaria Factsheet(248
kb) | Tuberculosis Factsheet(266
kb)
The spread of diseases like HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis wreak havoc in poor countries. In 2002, 42 million adults and five million children were living with HIV and AIDS and 95% of those people were in developing countries. Seven out of 10 were in
Sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaria, a wholly-treatable disease, is thought to account for up to 25% of child deaths in the developing world, while tuberculosis kills about two million people a year.
As well as the personal tragedy, these diseases are also having a devastating effect on the economies and social development of poor countries. For example, in 1999 an estimated 860,000 African children lost their teachers to AIDS.
We support the millennium development goal of halting the spread of HIV and AIDS, malaria and other major diseases by 2015.
To this end, we’re investing a lot of money in providing more health information, especially for young people and promoting greater access to contraceptives and treatment for sexual infections.
We were one of the key backers for a new
 Global Fund to Fight HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
(GFATM) that was set up in 2002.
The UK has pledged to provide £1.5
billion for HIV and AIDS work between 2005 and 2008, including £150 million for
orphans and vulnerable children. Experience has shown that decisive action, backed by local political support, can radically improve the outlook in some countries. Uganda, for instance, cut the prevalence of HIV and AIDS from a peak of 15% in 1991 to 5% in 2001.
The new International Health Partnership is an agreement with donors,
funding agencies and developing countries that aims to accelerate progress
towards meeting the health MDGs as part of a renewed ongoing high-level global
commitment.
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Last updated: 5 March 2008
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