Statements and Webcast
Senegal (on behalf of the Group of African States)
H.E. Mr. Modou Diagne Fada, Minister for Health and Prevention
8 June 2011
- Statement: French (Check against delivery)
Statement Summary
MODOU DIAGNE FADA, Minister for Health and Prevention of Senegal, speaking on behalf of the African States and the African Group, said “alarming” indicators in the Secretary-General’s report had noted that more and urgent efforts were required to eradicate HIV/AIDS. Against that backdrop, he called for an appropriate carrying out of the objectives in Assembly resolution 60/262 (2006) by strengthening national capacities to combat HIV/AIDS, especially in low-income countries. Efforts must be supported in order to apply various programmes and scale-up campaigns to end prejudice.
While steps to achieve equitable access to prevention, treatment and care were a major step forward in preventing mother-to-child transmission, he said the international community had a duty to provide adequate financial resources, as well as “wise” solutions for intellectual property rights issues. Microbicides and vaccines must be available to all at affordable prices. Such work must go hand-in-hand with the optimal use of national resources. A framework for cooperation must be created to guarantee coordination between national Governments and civil society, a model that also must be applied to the peaceful settlement of armed conflict, which increased the incidence of sexual violence and, thus, HIV and AIDS. In sum, the African Group would spare no effort in implementing the Declaration to be adopted at the end of the current high-level meeting.
Source: GA/11086