Published: Tuesday, 1st December, 2009 9:00am

MP backs world AIDS Day

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Des Browne today backed World AIDS DAY to raise awareness of the plight of the more than 33 million people around the world living with HIV.

Every day, over 6,000 people become infected with HIV and over 5,000 people die from AIDS. An estimated 1.9 million people were newly infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa last year, bringing to 22.4 million the number of people living with HIV. Around 14 million children have been orphaned due to AIDS.

Douglas Alexander, Labour's International Development Secretary, said: "Des Browne has been a passionate campaigner on this issue and has pressed me to do more to help. We have made tackling this disease a top priority and I am proud that, under Labour, the UK has become the 2nd largest funder tackling HIV/AIDS. We are committed to investing £6 billion to achieving the goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support. We can make a difference, if we show the political will to act."

Des Browne said: "Fewer than 1 in 5 people who need access to AIDS services across the developing world receive it. This is unacceptably low. Labour's continued commitment to overseas aid and support for health services in poor countries is vital to tackling this devastating epidemic. It is under Labour that UK has become the 2nd largest investor of tackling HIV and AIDs."