David Lepper presents petition on children and HIV
21 May 2009
David Lepper, Brighton Pavilion Labour and Co-operative MP, has presented a petition to the House of Commons signed by members of Brighton's City Gate Church urging the Government to outline how it intends to contribute to G8 commitments on preventing mother to child transmission of HIV, and to encourage other G8 countries to take similar action.
David says:
"City Gate Church plays a vital role in the local community with projects for pre-school age children and for vulnerable people.
"I know that church members share the concern which many of my constituents have about the UK's important role in taking a lead on tackling HIV/AIDS, particularly in developing countries.
"I think our government can be proud of its role, but it is right that Ministers should be called upon in this petition to spell out exactly what the UK is doing – and encouraging our overseas partners to do – to meet the target agreed at the 2007 G8 meeting to deal with transmission of HIV from mothers to children."
The petition, presented to the Deputy Speaker on Monday 18 May, declares:
"that almost every minute of every day a baby is born with HIV, and that almost all of these babies are born in the world's poorest countries; further declares that nine out of ten of all new HIV infections in children are as a direct result of mother to child transmission; further declares that the impact of HIV on infants is appalling and that without specialised treatment half will not live to see their second birthday; notes that in a number of countries, HIV and AIDS is the number one cause of death in under-five year olds.
Further declares that in rich countries the transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies has been virtually eliminated due to the availability of health care and the right drugs; notes, however, that in many low-income countries pregnant women and their babies are not receiving the same degree of care and protection; further notes that despite efforts to increase coverage of services to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV, figures from 2006 show that in low-income countries only 1 in 5 pregnant women with HIV had access to the necessary antiretroviral drugs to protect their babies.
Further notes that this shortfall is now attracting global attention and that in 2007 leaders at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm recognised the importance of preventing mother to child transmission of HIV and promised 1.5 billion dollars to provide access to services for all pregnant women; and believes that the UK has a key role to play in turning this G8 commitment into reality.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to outline how it intends to contribute to G8 commitments on preventing mother to child transmission of HIV, and to encourage other G8 countries to take similar action."
