Statements and Webcast
Mozambique
H.E. Mr. Aires Bonifacio Baptista Ali, Prime Minister
8 June 2011
- Statement: English (Check against delivery)
Statement Summary
AIRES BONIFACIO BAPTISTA ALI, Prime Minister of Mozambique, said Mozambique’s 2010-2014 national strategic plan on HIV was guided by the Assembly’s Declaration. The Mozambique Presidential Initiative, launched in February 2006, bolstered national efforts carried out by multiple stakeholders throughout the country to combat the epidemic. Thanks to a consistent national strategy and strong support from bilateral and multilateral partners, Mozambique had reached historic levels of service delivery and outreach, particularly in increasing access to antiretroviral therapy, including for children under age 15, and in increasing services to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Mozambique’s first-ever national survey, conducted in 2009, revealed that women and young girls were most vulnerable to HIV infection. In recent years, national efforts had focused increasingly on dealing with stigma, gender inequality and gender-based violence.
Mozambique was strongly committed to eliminate mother-to-child transmission by 2015 through a robust national action plan, he said. Integrating HIV/AIDS and other health services had proven beneficial to both in terms of highly improved access to HIV-related treatment and care, tuberculosis and other health services. He stressed the important role of social services, education, youth and the agriculture sector in preventing HIV and mitigating the negative impact of AIDS. Prevention must be at the forefront of national strategies to fight the epidemic. Low levels of condom use and HIV testing were obstacles that must be addressed urgently. The feasibility of promoting male circumcision must be assessed further.
Source: GA/11086