Commission galvanises efforts against killer diseases
The European Commission is opening a new front in the war against deadly infectious diseases in the developing world. On September 20, it adopted a communication setting out a policy framework to help defeat the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The move follows the introduction in April last year of a revised development policy which highlighted the links between poverty and ill health in developing countries. So the communication sets out proposals for integrating economic and medical aid and proposes a coherent set of development, trade and research policies to tackle these three diseases. The effects of the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are felt hardest in sub-Saharan Africa. Together they are responsible for more than 5 million deaths a year across the continent. Already an estimated 34 million Africans have been infected with HIV and by 2010 the annual death toll could reach 30 million. Furthermore, the diseases are affecting the ability of African states to help themselves. Due to the loss of skilled workers the economies of many African countries are shrinking - Kenya's GDP is already 10% down on the pre-AIDS figure and continues to fall by about 1% a year. Mr Poul Nielson, Commissioner for Development and humanitarian aid, said the Commission's policy was intended to improve the ability of people in developing countries to avoid infection with these disease. It would also improve the affordability of diagnostic methods and therapeutic care, and increase investment in research on preventive measures such as vaccines. 'The goal of the accelerated programme is to reduce the health and economic impacts of these three diseases and help millions of families in the developing world break the cycle of poverty and ill-health,' he said. 'I am committed to reforming the way we deliver on our policies so that accelerated means just that - we will act more quickly, decisively and effectively in helping to overcome what is rapidly becoming a public health catastrophe in many developing countries.' With the World Health Organisation and the United Nations joint programme on HIV/AIDS the Commission is hosting a high level international round table meeting on September 28. Representatives of 40 developing countries, and experts from industry, research agencies and NGOs will discuss the implementation of the Commission's plans for tackling poverty and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.