Canada pledges C$100m to AIDS treatment initiative
Canada is to contribute C$100m over two years to the World Health Organisation (WHO) '3 by 5' initiative, aimed at treating 3m people living with AIDS by the end of 2005.
Canada is to contribute C$100m over two years to the World Health Organisation (WHO) '3 by 5' initiative, aimed at treating 3m people living with AIDS by the end of 2005.
'Canada has demonstrated vision and leadership in supporting a new initiative. This contribution to '3 by 5' will make it possible for WHO to help catalyse efforts at the country level to urgently treat three million people living with AIDS,' said Dr Lee Jong-wook, WHO director-general.
'Canada is visionary in its approach to enable people around the world to access affordable medicines. Three years ago they did the same for the Stop TB partnership in supporting a new global drug facility,' said Dr Lee.
According to the WHO, in the developing world, 6m people need access to antiretroviral therapy to survive, but today only 400,000 have access to treat-ment. WHO's goal is universal access to AIDS treatment as part of a comprehensive AIDS strategy, linking prevention, treatment, care and support.