Deputy Foreign Minister Calls for Intensified Efforts to Combat HIV/AIDS and TB in th

Deputy Foreign Minister Calls for Intensified Efforts to Combat HIV/AIDS and TB in the SAARC Region

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Maldives
MEDIA RELEASE
Deputy Foreign Minister Calls for Intensified Efforts to Combat HIV/AIDS and TB in the SAARC Region

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E. Ms. Dunya Maumoon has called for intensified efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and TB in the SAARC region. Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the inauguration of the Regional TB and HIV/AIDS Programme Managers of SAARC Member States, Ms Maumoon noted “As a region we need to strengthen our programmes and actions. National surveys in our region have found that knowledge and information about HIV and safe behaviours is very low. Prevention efforts and education and awareness needs to be intensified”

The Deputy Minister spoke about the growing challenges in addressing the increasing epidemics of HIV/AIDS and TB globally as well as in the region. She pointed out that HIV and TB was a deadly combination. Ms. Maumoon highlighted the rapid urbanisation and poverty in the region as well as the growth of high risk groups that was fuelling the growth of the diseases. She noted that despite the grim picture there was cause for optimism and hope.

With the global commitment to Millennium Development Goal 6 to halt and reverse the spread of HIV and other major diseases, many countries had been taking initiatives which are showing successful outcomes. She pointed out that Maldives had the fortune of being a low HIV prevalence country, however, that the Government realised that there was no place for complacency.

Ms Maumoon also noted the high priority given by SAARC to HIV and TB stated that issues related to HIV and AIDS were identified as requiring early and special attention at national and regional levels. She highlighted that during the SAARC Summit of 2005, the SAARC Regional Strategy on HIV and AIDS was approved by the Heads of States of member countries.

In concluding her statement the Deputy Minister congratulated the Dr Kashi Kant Jha, Director of the SAARC Centre for TB and HIV/AIDS (STAC) for the work carried out by the centre through research and publications. She also thanked the Global Fund and UN agencies for their support to HIV programmes in the Maldives.
Dr Jha as well as Mr Ibrahim Shaheem, Director-General of the Department of Public Health of the Maldives also spoke at the ceremony. In his remarks, Dr Jha noted the success of TB control through DOTs in the Maldives and highlighted that Maldives was exemplary in the efforts it had taken to ensure low prevalence of HIV and TB. Dr Jha thanked the Deputy Minister for gracing the occasion.

Deputy Minister of Health, H. E. Dr Abdul Azeez Yoosuf, senior officials of the Ministry of Public Health and the Department of Health as well as HIV/AIDS Programme Managers of the SAARC countries attended the opening of the meeting. The meeting, which is being jointly organised by the SAARC TB&HIV Centre and the National TB & HIV/AIDS Control Programme of the Maldives, is expected to continue for 2 days.

END.

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May 28, 2008