UNAIDS Welcomes Australia's Increased Funding for AIDS

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 13 Jul 2004 - 1:00 PDT


UNAIDS welcomes the announcement by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, to more than double Australia's funding for AIDS from AUS$ 250 million (US$ 180 million) to AUS$600 million (US$ 435 million) by 2010.

The announcement was made in tandem with the appointment of Australia's first Special Representative on HIV/AIDS.

"Australia is already a leading advocate in the fight against AIDS in Asia and the Pacific," said Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. "This additional contribution and the appointment of a high-level AIDS representative highlight not only the urgency of the response in the region but the strong commitment of the Australian government."

In addition, an extra AUS$3 million will be used to support the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS and Development, an Australian initiative spearheaded by UNAIDS.

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For more information, please contact Dominique De Santis, UNAIDS, Bangkok, mobile (+41 79) 254 6803 or (+661) 2500 882, or Abby Spring, UNAIDS, Bangkok, mobile (+41 79) 308 9861 or (+661) 2500 874. For more information on UNAIDS, please visit our website,

http://www.unaids.org

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