THE Archbishop of York has called on the Government to keep as a priority support for children with AIDS in the developing world.
“The UK is one of only three countries in the world which provides specific funding for children affected by AIDS. This has been crucial in putting children at the forefront of the UK’s response to the AIDS pandemic, and must be continued,” Dr Sentamu said.
His call comes as a number of charities warn that the lower estimates of the number of people infected with the virus must not be seen as a reason to cut giving. The Archbishop, who is a member of the Consortium on AIDS and International Development’s Working Group on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, is concerned that the revision of the UK strategy on the pandemic could end the special funding for children.
The Consortium says that 2.5 million children are living with HIV, and a further 15 million children have lost one or both parents to the infection. The UK and other G8 leaders have promised to raise $1.5 billion to stop babies’ being born with HIV, and $1.8 billion to provide treatment for children living with it.
The Mothers’ Union has issued a statement saying that communities and governments are increasingly turning to it. It raises awareness of the disease and how to prevent it, and has helped tackle prejudice in many of the 78 countries where it operates.
Dr Patrick Dixon, the founder of the AIDS charity ACET, appealed last week to churches to remember the children of Zimbabwe on World Aids Day. He said that 21 per cent of the population in Zimbabwe had HIV: “AIDS continues to devastate Zimbabwe, but the Church is making a huge difference.” |
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