Thank you Mr. President

It is my honour and privilege to address this special session of the General Assembly convened to review all the problems of HIV/AIDS. The spread of the HIV/AIDS' epidemic has exceeded all estimations and this special event signifies a recognition by the international community that HIV/AIDS has become a global emergency. I therefore commend the efforts of the Secretary General for his strong leadership in combating the' pandemic. I also wish to acknowledge the important role played by the President of the General Assembly in preparation for this Special Session and the tireless efforts of the' co-facilitators, Ambassador Wensley of Australia and Ambassador Ka of Senegal.
 

Mr. President

The spread and effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic does not respect regional or national' boundaries and spares no community. Though the numbers of HIV/AIDS cases are relatively low in the Pacific region and in Tonga, this does not give rise to a sense of complacency. The incidence of HIV/AIDS cases is increasing. In our view preventative and control measures are of utmost importance in combating the disease. It is in this context that a national strategic plan is being developed in response to HIV/AIDS in Tonga. Priority areas for action include increasing community awareness of the disease,, how it is transmitted and methods of prevention. Access to affordable drugs is essential' as well as strengthening existing health care systems. Above all financial resources must be mobilized for an effective response.

I believe that knowledge empowers and this kind of empowerment can effectively combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. In Tonga this approach applies not just to HIV/AIDS, but also to combating other infectious diseases. We must therefore educate those in leadership and teaching roles at all levels of our communities. Health workers in particular play a crucial role in this equation. All relevant information on HIV/AIDS must be readily available. We must target both adults and the young people in our communities.

We must also recognise that certain groups within our communities attract a higher risk of infection. This might be due to social circumstances, age, an employment situation or a lifestyle decision. Information and awareness activities must target these groups to increase their knowledge and awareness of their own vulnerability, to reduce their risk behaviour and to promote healthy lifestyle choices.

It is of grave concern that HIV/AIDS prevalence is higher among women and young girls than any other group. There is clearly a need to develop measures to increase the capacity of women and young girls to protect themselves from the risk of infection. This might principally be done through prevention education and the provision of reproductive health services.

Living with a potentially fatal condition produces great stress, and strain, and those people have special problems and needs that must be addressed. These needs not only

include healthcare and treatment but also extend to social and spiritual support. People living with HIV/AIDS have a right to confidentiality and must not be subjected to discrimination whether it be in the family, the work place or the community. To address these, we must raise community awareness of the special needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, by strengthening, where possible, existing health care and support services and ensuring that quality counseling is available to all those involved.
 

Mr. President

Basic national health and social infrastructures are essential for the effective delivery of preventative and care services. Our national health system is currently overstretched as it is. It is therefore vital that our national health system is improved and strengthened in order to cope with the demands of HIV/AIDS. This would include the existence of a safe blood supply system that provides protection to donors, recipients as well as health workers.

As we have seen during the past two decades, HIV/AIDS is not just a health problem. It's widespread social and economic impact is potentially devastating in a small community such as ours of just over 100,000 people spread over some 170 islands. It is therefore essential to co-ordinate the activities of the many different relevant agencies in order to attain the best and most effective response possible.

At the national level the establishment of a network mechanism within and between Government, Churches, Non Government Organizations (NGOs), and the private sector is crucial. An ongoing commitment to the HIV/AIDS response from all these groups must be developed. We also recognize the important role of NGOs in planning, implementing and monitoring the HIV/AIDS response. At the regional level, organizations must be equipped to give support to and strengthen efforts undertaken at the national level. In this regard the continuing presence of UNAIDS in the Pacific region is crucial.

In closing, we commend the commitments and leadership efforts that have been made thus far. In particular we welcome the establishment of a global fund to combat HIV/AIDS and thank those who have expressed support and made pledges to this fund. For a Pacific Island nation like Tonga we cannot combat HIV/AIDS effectively with our limited resources. In this regard we wish to thank AUSAID and UNAIDS for their efforts in response to HIV/AIDS in the Pacific region. We look forward to participating in the Regional Ministerial Meeting on HIV/AIDS to be held in Melbourne in October this year and welcome further such opportunities in the future.

We see this Special Session as a window of opportunity by which to reinforce existing efforts in finding the right approach. We therefore hope that the Declaration of Commitment to be adopted at this Special Session will lay the solid foundation for a global consensus to meeting the challenges ahead.
 

I thank you Mr. President.