Statements and Webcast
Georgia
H.E. Mr. George Tsereteli, Deputy Chairman of Parliament
9 June 2011
- Statement: English (Check against delivery)
Statement Summary
GEORGE TSERETELI, Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, said his country had become, and remained, the only one in its region that had ensured universal access to antiretroviral treatment. By expanding those programmes, it had been able to provide the lifesaving treatment to the entire country. Georgia had also ensured universal access to services, including HIV testing, counselling and prophylactic antiretroviral therapy. As a result, there were no new cases of mother-to-child transmission among those enrolled in the programme, he said.
While Georgia was a low-prevalence country, intensive migration trends in the region placed the country at high risk for the expansion of HIV infection, making international and regional cooperation a very important factor in limiting that threat. Parliamentary, intergovernmental and professional networks served as good bases for such cooperation, he said, noting that one of the keys to Georgia’s successes was its innovative approach to interventions, including the establishment of palliative care and the implementation of home-based antiretroviral adherence support programmes. First Lady Sandra Roelofs had recently been appointed a WHO Goodwill Ambassador for health-related non-governmental organizations, he said, adding that the move would foster new opportunities for strengthening effort, not only in Georgia, but also in the entire region.
Source: GA/11090