Statements and Webcast
Qatar
H.E. Mr. Abdulla Bin Khalid Al-Kahtani, Minister of Public Health
8 June 2011
- Statement: English (Check against delivery)
Statement Summary
ABDULLAH BIN KHALID AL-KAHTANI, Minister of Public Health of Qatar, said the goal of halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and beginning to reverse it would remain elusive unless the international community intensified its efforts. The new and ambitious strategy of UNAIDS for the next phase, from 2011 to 2015, constituted a real opportunity for the world to get rid of the epidemic. The new strategy came concurrently with the early announcement of the impressive results of Study No. 52, which proved conclusively that the use of antiretroviral drugs limited the spread of the disease by as much as 96 per cent.
One could not deny the positive impact of international efforts aimed at reducing the spread of HIV and alleviating the suffering of those affected, as well as those most vulnerable to infection. The leaders of the G-8 (Group of Eight) had reaffirmed their commitment to increase development aid, and he reiterated the call to the international community to intensify its efforts to help affected countries deal effectively with the epidemic, as well. However, major countries needed to fulfil their financial pledges, or developing countries’ efforts would not be effective.
Source: GA/11086